Reuben
Americannoun
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the eldest son of Jacob and Leah. Genesis 29, 30.
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one of the 12 tribes of Israel, the tribe traditionally descended from him.
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a male given name.
noun
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the eldest son of Jacob and Leah: one of the 12 patriarchs of Israel (Genesis 29:30)
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the Israelite tribe descended from him
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the territory of this tribe, lying to the northeast of the Dead Sea
Etymology
Origin of Reuben
From Late Latin Ruben, from Greek Rhoubḗn, from Hebrew Rĕʾūbhēn, of uncertain origin, but traditionally translated as “Behold, a son!” and associated with Rāʾāh bĕʿōnī “He (God) has looked upon my affliction” (by granting Leah a son)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"It helped the story to see an emaciated body. With Reuben, I just wanted to feel the character in the body and feel physically imposing opposite Jamie."
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026
The previous ambassador, Reuben Brigety, resigned in November 2024, just before Trump took office.
From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026
Gabby Logan's son, Reuben Logan, read a poem before her daughter Lois Logan sang the hymn Jerusalem, at Yorath's request.
From BBC • Jan. 26, 2026
UCLA’s offensive line will also be back at full strength with the expected return of guard Garrett DiGiorgio and tackle Reuben Unije from injuries.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2025
“The case of Little Reuben occurred only twenty-three years after Cur Ford’s first T-Model was put on the market.”
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
