Reuben

American  

[roo-buhn] / ˈru bən /

noun

1. the eldest son of Jacob and Leah. Genesis 29, 30.

2. one of the 12 tribes of Israel, the tribe traditionally descended from him.

3. Reuben sandwich.

4. a male given name.

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Reuben British  

/ ˈruːbɪn /

noun

1. the eldest son of Jacob and Leah: one of the 12 patriarchs of Israel (Genesis 29:30)

2. the Israelite tribe descended from him

3. the territory of this tribe, lying to the northeast of the Dead Sea

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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

“Reuben Montgomery’s father is a naval engineer,” Theo says, reading from the first file open in front of him.

From Literature

Natalie swam for the houses on the far side of the street, but Reuben pushed her back.

From Literature

Adams received the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award, the industry’s highest honor, in 1997.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet a viewer isn’t left with the sense that Reubens did that out of greed or egotism.

From Salon

Significantly, the name Paul Reubens is absent from the title of this bountiful, sweet and sometimes melancholy look at one of pop culture’s great creations and its creator.

From Los Angeles Times