grub

American  

[gruhb] / grʌb /

noun

grubs plural

1. the thick-bodied, sluggish larva of several insects, as of a scarab beetle.

2. a dull, plodding person; drudge.

3. an unkempt person.

4. Slang. food; victuals.

5. any remaining roots or stumps after cutting vegetation to clear land for farming.

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verb (used with object)

grubs, present (3rd person singular) grubbed, past participle, past grubbing present participle

1. to dig; clear of roots, stumps, etc.

2. to dig up by the roots; uproot (often followed by up orout ).

3. Slang. to supply with food; feed.

4. Slang. to scrounge.

   to grub a cigarette.

verb (used without object)

grubs, present (3rd person singular) grubbed, past participle, past grubbing present participle

1. to dig; search by or as if by digging.

   We grubbed through piles of old junk to find the deed.

2. to lead a laborious or groveling life; drudge.

   It's wonderful to have money after having to grub for so many years.

3. to engage in laborious study.

4. Slang. to eat; take food.

grub British  

/ ɡrʌb /

verb

1. to search for and pull up (roots, stumps, etc) by digging in the ground

2. to dig up the surface of (ground, soil, etc), esp to clear away roots, stumps, etc

3. (intr; often foll by in or among) to search carefully

4. (intr) to work unceasingly, esp at a dull task or research

5. slang to provide (a person) with food or (of a person) to take food

6. slang (tr) to scrounge

   to grub a cigarette

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noun

1. the short legless larva of certain insects, esp beetles

2. slang food; victuals

3. a person who works hard, esp in a dull plodding way

4. informal a dirty child

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• grubber
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• grubs
  plural

Participles

• grubbing
  present
• grubbed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• grub
  simple
• grubs
  simple
• have grubbed
  perfect
• has grubbed
  perfect
• am grubbing
  progressive
• are grubbing
  progressive
• is grubbing
  progressive
• have been grubbing
  perfect progressive
• has been grubbing
  perfect progressive

Past

• grubbed
  simple
• had grubbed
  perfect
• was grubbing
  progressive
• were grubbing
  progressive
• had been grubbing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will grub
  simple
• will have grubbed
  perfect
• will be grubbing
  progressive
• will have been grubbing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of grub

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English grubbe (noun), grubben (verb); akin to Old High German grubilōn “to dig,” German grübeln “to rack (the brain),” Old Norse gryfia “hole, pit”; see grave ¹, groove

Explanation

The noun grub can refer either to a soft, young insect or to hearty food. If your best friend invites you over for some grub, don't worry — she almost certainly means the food and not the bugs. The grubs your dad picks off of his tomato plant are insects, while the grub you eat in the school cafeteria includes spaghetti and Sloppy Joes. The most interesting thing about this word is how it went from describing a squishy, arguably gross little beetle larva to an informal term for something delicious. Experts guess that it comes from birds gobbling grubs. This slang definition has been around since the 17th century.

Example Sentences

New York produces a biweekly print magazine, as well as digital content published under brands such as the Cut, Grub Street and Vulture.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

In one, she makes a charcuterie board for her 10 crabs, complete with peach slices, crickets, and octopus, purchased from a specialty site called Hermit Grub.

From Slate • Aug. 19, 2025

The Grub Hub on Wyken Road has been helping people in the community deal with the cost of living crisis, offering discounted food parcels.

From BBC • Jul. 21, 2025

Sasha Grub, in white, and Shima Rable have visited Community Goods multiple times while visiting L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2024

Grub almost agreed, then he clamped his mouth shut and nodded.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

Related Words

• maggot
• worm