rub

[ ruhb ]

/ rʌb /

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See synonyms for: rub / rubbed / rubbing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), rubbed, rub·bing.

to subject the surface of (a thing or person) to pressure and friction, as in cleaning, smoothing, polishing, coating, massaging, or soothing: to rub a table top with wax polish; to rub the entire back area.

to move (something) back and forth or with a rotary motion, as against or along another surface: to rub the cloth over the glass pane.

to spread or apply (something) with pressure and friction over something else or a person: to rub lotion on her chapped hands.

to move (two things) with pressure and friction over or back and forth over each other (often followed by together): He rubbed his hands together.

to mark, polish, force, move, etc. (something) by pressure and friction (often followed by over, in, or into).

to remove by pressure and friction; erase (often followed by off or out).

verb (used without object), rubbed, rub·bing.

to exert pressure and friction on something.

to move with pressure against something.

to admit of being rubbed in a specified manner: Chalk rubs off easily.

Chiefly British. to proceed, continue in a course, or keep going with effort or difficulty (usually followed by on, along, or through): He manages to rub along.

noun

an act or instance of rubbing: an alcohol rub.

something that annoys or irritates one's feelings, as a sharp criticism, a sarcastic remark, or the like: to resent rubs concerning one's character.

an annoying experience or circumstance.

an obstacle, impediment, or difficulty: We'd like to travel, but the rub is that we have no money.

a rough or abraded area caused by rubbing.

Verb Phrases

rub down,

to smooth off, polish, or apply a coating to: to rub a chair down with sandpaper.
to give a massage to.

rub off on, to become transferred or communicated to by example or association: Some of his good luck must have rubbed off on me.

rub out,

to obliterate; erase.
Slang. to murder: They rubbed him out before he could get to the police.

OTHER WORDS FOR rub

14 hitch, catch, thing, trouble, pinch.

See synonyms for rub on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms about rub

rub it in, Informal. to emphasize or reiterate something unpleasant in order to tease or annoy: The situation was embarrassing enough without having you rub it in.

rub salt in / into someone's wounds. salt¹ (def. 23).

rub the wrong way, to irritate; offend; annoy: a manner that seemed to rub everyone the wrong way.

rub up, British Informal. to refresh one's memory of (a subject, language, etc.).

Origin of rub

1300–50; 1860–65 for def. 18b; Middle English rubben (v.); cognate with Frisian rubben,Danish rubbe,Swedish rubba

OTHER WORDS FROM rub

un·rubbed, adjectivewell-rubbed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use rub in a sentence

Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands for at least 20 seconds with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
7 Tips For Staying Safe As COVID-19 Cases Rise And Colder Weather Heightens The Risk|LGBTQ-Editor|October 25, 2020|No Straight News
The rub was that Gamgort saw no way his domestic can suppliers could possibly make enough of them.
Keurig is a machine: How the beverage giant is leveraging A.I. to fuel growth|Shawn Tully|October 19, 2020|Fortune
Once you have it, just salt the steaks, season with a dry rub, and then grill them.
Listen to Africa’s Singing Giants|Joshua Eferighe|October 2, 2020|Ozy
The rub is that, according to multiple sources, in order to be part of Google’s news licensing initiative, Google can terminate the agreement if the publisher participates in a legal claim or complaint against Google.
‘Quite cynical’: Publishers leery about Google’s $1 billion news licensing pot|Lucinda Southern|October 1, 2020|Digiday

He notes that most commercial blends are full of salt or sugar, and are sold under blanket terms like “blackening” or “steak rub.”
The Redemption of the Spice Blend|Jaya Saxena|September 10, 2020|Eater
Necks are rubbed, pimples popped and haircuts given on a totally unnecessary, weekly basis.
Patted Down by India’s Hugging Saint|Daniel Genis|July 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Lydia also gets her vitals checked, arm rubbed with alcohol, and glove-covered hands safely inserting the needle.
The I.V. Doc Comes to Your House, Fights Hangovers, and Wins|Abby Haglage|July 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"It's rubbed with curry and five-spice powder," he explains as waiters take notes.
A Magical Meal at Louie’s Backyard in the Conch Republic|Jane & Michael Stern|July 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I should have bought you roses, Good & Plenty, and rubbed your toeses [sic],” he adds on “Too Little Too Late.
Robin Thicke’s ‘Paula’ Is What You Shouldn’t Do When You Get Dumped|Andrew Romano|June 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The women in my family often rubbed their palms against his cheek, though it was his eyes that made him so beautiful.
‘Tracing the Blue Light’: Read Chapter 1 of Eileen Cronin’s ‘Mermaid’|Eileen Cronin|April 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I rubbed in the spot indicated, and out came the crest and initials exactly as Jack had described them.
Uncanny Tales|Various
From the earliest days great commanders have rubbed in the maxim, "If you attack, attack with all your force."
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
Then he rubbed the blade of his knife back and forth over this till the edge was sharp enough to split a hair with ease.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade
"Never mind," said Isabel, as Gwynne mopped his brow for the third time and ostentatiously rubbed his face.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
She took it and rubbed it with soft sand to remove some discolorations and laid it, with a horn-handled knife, by the china plate.
The Cromptons|Mary J. Holmes

British Dictionary definitions for rub

rub

/ (rʌb) /

verb rubs, rubbing or rubbed

to apply pressure and friction to (something) with a circular or backward and forward motion

to move (something) with pressure along, over, or against (a surface)

to chafe or fray

(tr) to bring into a certain condition by rubbingrub it clean

(tr) to spread with pressure, esp in order to cause to be absorbedhe rubbed ointment into his back

(tr) to mix (fat) into flour with the fingertips, as in making pastry

(foll by off, out, away, etc) to remove or be removed by rubbing

bowls (of a bowl) to be slowed or deflected by an uneven patch on the green

(tr often foll by together) to move against each other with pressure and friction (esp in the phrases rub one's hands, often a sign of glee, anticipation, or satisfaction, and rub noses, a greeting among Inuit people)

rub someone's nose in it informal to remind someone unkindly of his failing or error

rub up the wrong way to arouse anger (in); annoy

rub shoulders with or rub elbows with informal to mix with socially or associate with

noun

the act of rubbing

the rub an obstacle or difficulty (esp in the phrase there's the rub)

something that hurts the feelings or annoys; rebuke

bowls an uneven patch in the green

any roughness or unevenness of surface

golf an incident of accidental interference with the ball
informal a piece of good or bad luck

See also rub along, rub down, rub in, rub off, rub out, rub up

Word Origin for rub

C15: perhaps from Low German rubben, of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with rub

rub

In addition to the idioms beginning with rub

rub down
rub elbows with
rub in
rub off on
rub one's hands
rub out
rub someone's nose in it
rub the wrong way
rub up on

also see:

the rub