rubbed; rubbing
1
a
: to move along the surface of a body with pressure : grate
b(1)
: to fret or chafe with or as if with friction
(2)
: to cause discontent, irritation, or anger
2
: to continue in a situation usually with slight difficulty
in spite of financial difficulties, he is rubbing along
3
: to admit of being rubbed (as for erasure or obliteration)
1
a
: to subject to or as if to the action of something moving especially back and forth with pressure and friction
b(1)
: to cause (a body) to move with pressure and friction along a surface
(2)
: to treat in any of various ways by rubbing
c
: to bring into reciprocal back-and-forth or rotary contact
1
a
: an unevenness of surface (as of the ground in lawn bowling)
b
: obstruction, difficulty
the rub is that so few of the scholars have any sense of this truth themselves—
Benjamin Farrington
Benjamin Farrington
c
: something grating to the feelings (such as a gibe or harsh criticism)
d
: something that mars serenity
2
: the application of friction with pressure
an alcohol rub
3
US
: a combination of spices that is rubbed into the surface of meat before the meat is cooked
used a dry rub on the pork ribs
Synonyms
Verb
Noun
Examples of rub in a Sentence
Verb
Could you rub my shoulders?
He blinked and rubbed his eyes.
The cat rubbed itself against my leg.
The cat rubbed against my leg.
Don't rub too hard or you'll tear the paper.
He rubbed his hands with glee.
There was a squeak when the boards rubbed together.
The back of my shoe is rubbing against my heel and giving me a blister.
There are marks where the chair has rubbed against the wall.
There are marks where the chair has been rubbing the wall.
Noun
She's an amazing cook, but she rarely has time to make meals. There's the rub.
He used his favorite rub on the steaks.
a dry rub for chicken
Recent Examples on the WebKathleen Suico, Allure, 13 Apr. 2024
These painful lumps, however, can burst and continuously drain fluid, have a particular smell, and show up in places where skin rubs on skin, like under the arms and breasts as well as in the folds of the groin and butt.
—Ade Onibada, SELF, 12 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rub 
Verb
But in the Best Way Tester Feedback: Han is pretty picky about body sunscreens because so many feel heavy and sticky on the skin, but this one feels light and airy, even after multiple layers and rounds of rubbing.
—Kathleen Suico, Allure, 13 Apr. 2024
These painful lumps, however, can burst and continuously drain fluid, have a particular smell, and show up in places where skin rubs on skin, like under the arms and breasts as well as in the folds of the groin and butt.
—Ade Onibada, SELF, 12 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rub
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rub.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Rub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rub. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rub
1 of 2 verb
rubbed; rubbing
1
a
: to move along the surface of a body with pressure
b
: to wear away or chafe with friction
2
: to scour, polish, erase, spread, or smear by pressure and friction
rub
2 of 2 noun1
a
: something that gets in the way : difficulty
b
: something that is annoying
2
: the act of rubbing
Medical Definition
rub
noun1
: the application of friction with pressure
an alcohol rub
2
: a sound heard in auscultation that is produced by the friction of one structure moving against another
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