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In what country was the word phub first used during a 2012 ad campaign?

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phub

American  

[fuhb] / fʌb /

verb (used with object)

phubbed, phubbing

1. to ignore (a person or one's surroundings) when in a social situation by busying oneself with a phone or other mobile device.

   Hey, are you phubbing me?

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verb (used without object)

phubbed, phubbing

1. to ignore a person or one's surroundings in this way.

Etymology

Origin of phub

First recorded in 2010–15; ph(one) ¹ + (sn)ub

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

phubbed phubbing

Overall the results showed that the more you feel you're being phubbed, the worse your relationship tends to be.

From BBC ● Nov. 17, 2025

Every time you are phubbed you lose connection and once you've left a shared moment to look at a screen, it can take a while to get back to what was going on before.

From BBC ● Nov. 17, 2025

Most know what it’s like to be phubbed: You’re in the middle of a passionate screed only to realize that your partner’s attention is elsewhere.

From Salon ● Dec. 1, 2016

"These findings around phubbing hold particular relevance in the post-pandemic era, where hybrid working arrangements have become increasingly prevalent," said Professor Rofcanin.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 8, 2024

People who reported higher levels of phubbing also reported higher levels of relationship conflict.

From New York Times ● May 2, 2017

For example, in one study, 70 percent of participants said that phubbing hurt their ability to interact with their romantic partners.

From Salon ● Dec. 1, 2016

Perhaps we’re keen on medicalizing our phone use because a diagnosis can be a handy excuse for obtuse behavior, such as the aforementioned phubbing.

From Slate ● Aug. 31, 2015

But a fightback against phubbing is taking many forms, the paper says.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2013

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