rub up
verb
rubbed up; rubbing up; rubs up
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
Toe then proceeded to gently sniff the baby's head and rub up against it.
—
Liz O'Connell, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
It’s rubbed up against human beings in the middle of a pit.
—Emma Madden, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
As a type, there is something of the frontier sheriff or noir detective in the exorcist, someone who has rubbed up against seamy outlaws and knows their wiles.
—Sam Kestenbaum, Harper's Magazine, 21 June 2024
Experiment with what feels best — pressing down on it with the pads of your fingers or your palms, using your fingertips to rub in a wide circle around it, rubbing up and down over it.
—Molly Longman, refinery29.com, 8 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rub up 
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.
Liz O'Connell, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
It’s rubbed up against human beings in the middle of a pit.
—Emma Madden, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
As a type, there is something of the frontier sheriff or noir detective in the exorcist, someone who has rubbed up against seamy outlaws and knows their wiles.
—Sam Kestenbaum, Harper's Magazine, 21 June 2024
Experiment with what feels best — pressing down on it with the pads of your fingers or your palms, using your fingertips to rub in a wide circle around it, rubbing up and down over it.
—Molly Longman, refinery29.com, 8 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rub up
Dictionary Entries Near rub up
Cite this Entry
“Rub up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rub%20up. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share