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.
Langer’s No. 44 is a hot pastrami Reuben sandwich with sauerkraut and nippy cheese on grilled rye bread.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026
"We take this legislation very seriously," spokesman Reuben Davidson said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026
Maxine Johnson's son, Reuben Morgan, was 15 when he died on 17 June 2006 after getting into difficulty while swimming with friends at Pontsticill Reservoir near Merthyr Tydfil.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
Some—like the Shakespeare-reading New Hampshire farmer John Ordway and the Kentucky woodsmen Joseph and Reuben Field—were poor and bored and ready for adventure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026
She had finally found someone to help her, found a safe place to hide from Reuben, and now she and Churro were alone again.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
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