rub up

verb

rubbed up; rubbing up; rubs up

transitive verb

1

: to revive or refresh knowledge of : recall

2

: to improve the keenness of (a mental faculty)

Examples of rub up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Both Erdoğan and Putin are skilful soft-power players, who target the very places where the Ottoman, Russian and Soviet empires once rubbed up. — Literary Hub, 30 July 2026

The 130-year-old Canary Island date palm that was originally planted in 1896 now stands just to the right of the Jungle Cruise entrance — so close, in fact, that the trunk rubs up against the boathouse queue building. — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 7 July 2026

Asked about this, Wallach told Inside Climate News that a tiger rubbing up against its fencing is not upset. — Katie Surma, Sun Sentinel, 19 June 2026

The only sounds in your private pavilion are birdsong and a symphony of critters as nature rubs up against the swaths of pale stone and marble. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1571, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rub up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup