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.
Brigitte Marshall, 58, and her son, Reuben, 24, who were support workers at her care home, are now there for her.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
"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
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
The previous ambassador, Reuben Brigety, resigned in November 2024, just before Trump took office.
From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026
But this time Reuben worked with her, not against her.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
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.
