rubbed Meaning & Definition
What Does Rubbed Mean?
As a verb, rubbed means to move along the surface of a body with pressure. It can also mean to fret or chafe with or as if with friction.
Quick Facts About Rubbed
| Part of speech | verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈrəb/ |
| Synonyms | buffed, burnished and glistening |
| Antonyms | dim, dull and flat |
Rubbed Definition (Verb)
- to move along the surface of a body with pressure : grate
Earthquakes … are caused when two tectonic plates … come into contact … and one plate bangs into another or rubs alongside it …
- to fret or chafe with or as if with friction
The back of my shoe is rubbing against my heel and giving me a blister.
- to cause discontent, irritation, or anger
… it rubs to be presided over by a vast … paternal Indifference.
- to continue in a situation usually with slight difficulty
in spite of financial difficulties, he is rubbing along
- to respond to being rubbed (as for erasure or obliteration)
The ink rubs off.
- to subject to or as if to the action of something moving especially back and forth with pressure and friction
rubbed his sore muscles
- to cause (a body) to move with pressure and friction along a surface
He was rubbing grubby little knuckles in his eyes …
- to treat in any of various ways by rubbing
rub the fish with seasonings
- to bring into reciprocal back-and-forth or rotary contact
rubbed two sticks together to start a fire
- annoy, irritate
knew it was a sore subject he was rubbing
Synonyms of Rubbed
Antonyms of Rubbed
Rubbed in a Sentence
I rubbed my hands together for warmth.
I rubbed the glass with the cloth.
My shoes are beginning to rub.
meat rubbed with spices before barbecuing
to rub through woods, as huntsmen
to rub up silver
Earthquakes … are caused when two tectonic plates … come into contact … and one plate bangs into another or rubs alongside it …
The back of my shoe is rubbing against my heel and giving me a blister.
… it rubs to be presided over by a vast … paternal Indifference.
in spite of financial difficulties, he is rubbing along
The ink rubs off.
rubbed his sore muscles
He was rubbing grubby little knuckles in his eyes …
rub the fish with seasonings
rubbed two sticks together to start a fire
knew it was a sore subject he was rubbing
the rubbed brass of the wall sconce showed my reflection
the brake pads were rubbed away as a result of years of use
the furniture restorer rubbed the board perfectly smooth with sandpaper
the butler rubbed the silver tea set until it gleamed
Word Forms & Grammar
rubbed
rub·bing
rub
rubbing
rubs
rub one's nose in
rubbed (not comparable)
Words That Rhyme With Rubbed
Origin of Rubbed
Middle English rubben; akin to East Frisian rubben to rub, scrape, Icelandic rubba to scrape
First Known Use
14th centuryi
Rubbed: Your Questions Answered
What part of speech is rubbed?
Rubbed is a verb.
What is another word for rubbed?
You can replace rubbed with words such as buffed, burnished and glistening. See the full list of rubbed synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of rubbed?
Antonyms of rubbed include dim, dull, flat and lusterless.