1
2
: a piece of thick heavy fabric that usually has a nap or pile and is used as a floor covering
3
: a floor mat of an animal pelt
a bearskin rug
4
slang : toupee sense 1
5
British : a blanket for an animal (such as a horse or dog)

Examples of rug in a Sentence

I accidentally spilled wine on the rug. You could tell that he was wearing a rug.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The interior design by Francesco Paszkowski in collaboration with Margherita Casprini incorporates furniture with strong curves, rugs with shapes that define the spaces in a non-traditional manner. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025 Where to stay Neri and Akriti’s boutique hotel, Vico Milano, is a stylish seven-room hideaway on Corso Genova full of midcentury furnishings, Moroccan rugs, and bespoke design elements. Laura Itzkowitz, AFAR Media, 3 Oct. 2025 Sean Jacobs, who runs Lucky Cat Furnishings out of Bella Patina, can tell you about the chemical leak that came from upstairs and destroyed $1,600 worth of his inventory — dressers, clothes, a record player, multiple rugs. David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025 Joanna Gaines continues to bring her design expertise into our homes, and her area rug collaboration with Loloi is an easy way to refresh your space. Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rug

Word History

Etymology

Middle English *rug rag, tuft, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian dialect rugga coarse rug, Old Norse rǫgg tuft

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rug was in 1591

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rug. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

rug

noun
: a piece of thick heavy fabric usually with a nap or pile used as a floor covering

More from Merriam-Webster on rug

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