- present participle of rub.
rubbing
Americannoun
-
an act or action of a person or thing that rubs.
-
an impression of an incised or sculptured surface made by laying paper over it and rubbing with heelball, graphite, or a similar substance until the image appears.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of rubbing
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at rub, -ing 1
Vocabulary lists containing rubbing
Visual Arts - Introductory
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Visual Arts - High School
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Visual Arts - Middle School
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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.
Rubbing it in, there were other maximums, so the money was shared with Ali Carter at the English Open and split three ways in China.
From BBC • Dec. 2, 2025
Rubbing his head in frustration on the touchline, Guardiola seemed especially vexed by Abdukodir Khusanov's leaden-footed attempt to close down Grimaldo prior to the goal.
From Barron's • Nov. 25, 2025
Rubbing the balloon on the carpet creates an electric charge, which produces an electric field that tugs on your hair when you hold the balloon up to your head.
From Science Magazine • May 20, 2024
"If you bump your hand, instinctively, you rub it. Rubbing increases blood flow, stimulates sensory nerves, and sends a signal to your brain that masks the pain," Christopoulos said.
From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2024
Rubbing his neck, his face still burning, he walked from her rooms, wondering how, exactly, he’d explain this to Dorian tomorrow.
From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
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.
