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
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 Web
Peter Debruge, Variety, 8 Mar. 2025
The seams don't rub, even with a heavy pack on, and the cut is roomy without being too baggy.
—Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2025
Worth Sparkman, Axios, 27 Jan. 2025
As the cartilage wears away, bone rubs on bone, causing pain, discomfort, and stiffness at the top of the shoulder.10
Cervical degenerative disc disease: Spinal discs that provide cushioning between the neck vertebrae (bones) wear away, lose height, or collapse, leading to nerve compression.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 31 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for rub
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Verb
Thinking fast, the kid rubs his fists in broken glass, instantly upgrading his wimpy, untrained knuckles into deadly weapons.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 8 Mar. 2025
The seams don't rub, even with a heavy pack on, and the cut is roomy without being too baggy.
—Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
Meat fell from the bone of the ribs, had a nice smoke ring and a hearty dry rub crust.
—Worth Sparkman, Axios, 27 Jan. 2025
As the cartilage wears away, bone rubs on bone, causing pain, discomfort, and stiffness at the top of the shoulder.10
Cervical degenerative disc disease: Spinal discs that provide cushioning between the neck vertebrae (bones) wear away, lose height, or collapse, leading to nerve compression.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 31 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for rub
Articles Related to rub
Cite this Entry
“Rub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rub. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.
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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