rub – English verb conjugation

English verb forms of rub

Nominal Forms

Infinitive: to rub in sth
Participle: rubbed in sth
Gerund: rubbing in sth

Cognates

See the 4 cognates of rub

Indicative

Present

Irub in sth
yourub in sth
he;she;itrubs in sth
werub in sth
yourub in sth
theyrub in sth

Perfect

Ihave rubbed in sth
youhave rubbed in sth
he;she;ithas rubbed in sth
wehave rubbed in sth
youhave rubbed in sth
theyhave rubbed in sth

Past

Irubbed in sth
yourubbed in sth
he;she;itrubbed in sth
werubbed in sth
yourubbed in sth
theyrubbed in sth

Pluperfect

Ihad rubbed in sth
youhad rubbed in sth
he;she;ithad rubbed in sth
wehad rubbed in sth
youhad rubbed in sth
theyhad rubbed in sth

Future

Iwill rub in sth
youwill rub in sth
he;she;itwill rub in sth
wewill rub in sth
youwill rub in sth
theywill rub in sth

Future Perfect

Iwill have rubbed in sth
youwill have rubbed in sth
he;she;itwill have rubbed in sth
wewill have rubbed in sth
youwill have rubbed in sth
theywill have rubbed in sth

Subjunctive

Present

Irub in sth
yourub in sth
he;she;itrub in sth
werub in sth
yourub in sth
theyrub in sth

Perfect

Ihave rubbed in sth
youhave rubbed in sth
he;she;ithave rubbed in sth
wehave rubbed in sth
youhave rubbed in sth
theyhave rubbed in sth

Imperfect

Irubbed in sth
yourubbed in sth
he;she;itrubbed in sth
werubbed in sth
yourubbed in sth
theyrubbed in sth

Pluperfect

Ihad rubbed in sth
youhad rubbed in sth
he;she;ithad rubbed in sth
wehad rubbed in sth
youhad rubbed in sth
theyhad rubbed in sth

Conditional

Present

Iwould rub in sth
youwould rub in sth
he;she;itwould rub in sth
wewould rub in sth
youwould rub in sth
theywould rub in sth

Perfect

Iwould have rubbed in sth
youwould have rubbed in sth
he;she;itwould have rubbed in sth
wewould have rubbed in sth
youwould have rubbed in sth
theywould have rubbed in sth

Imperative

yourub in sth
weLet's rub in sth
yourub in sth

Progressive (Continuous) Forms

Indicative

Present

Iam rubbing in sth
youare rubbing in sth
he;she;itis rubbing in sth
weare rubbing in sth
youare rubbing in sth
theyare rubbing in sth

Perfect

Ihave been rubbing in sth
youhave been rubbing in sth
he;she;ithas been rubbing in sth
wehave been rubbing in sth
youhave been rubbing in sth
theyhave been rubbing in sth

Past

Iwas rubbing in sth
youwere rubbing in sth
he;she;itwas rubbing in sth
wewere rubbing in sth
youwere rubbing in sth
theywere rubbing in sth

Pluperfect

Ihad been rubbing in sth
youhad been rubbing in sth
he;she;ithad been rubbing in sth
wehad been rubbing in sth
youhad been rubbing in sth
theyhad been rubbing in sth

Future

Iwill be rubbing in sth
youwill be rubbing in sth
he;she;itwill be rubbing in sth
wewill be rubbing in sth
youwill be rubbing in sth
theywill be rubbing in sth

Future Perfect

Iwill have been rubbing in sth
youwill have been rubbing in sth
he;she;itwill have been rubbing in sth
wewill have been rubbing in sth
youwill have been rubbing in sth
theywill have been rubbing in sth

Conditional

Present

Iwould be rubbing in sth
youwould be rubbing in sth
he;she;itwould be rubbing in sth
wewould be rubbing in sth
youwould be rubbing in sth
theywould be rubbing in sth

Perfect

Iwould have been rubbing in sth
youwould have been rubbing in sth
he;she;itwould have been rubbing in sth
wewould have been rubbing in sth
youwould have been rubbing in sth
theywould have been rubbing in sth

Other

Verbs conjugated like 'rub'

abet, abhor, abut, acquit, admit, affrap, allot, alum, amel, amit, anagram, anvil, apparel, aret, arret, assot, astun, attrap, augur, avel, etc. (List truncated at 20 verbs)

Verbs similar to 'rub'

bub, cub, drub, dub, fub, grub, gub, nub, pub, rib,

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

scour
polish, chafe, clean, massage, scrape, smooth, brush, knead

Additional Information

Etymology

1. 1377, perhaps related to E.Fris. rubben "to scratch, rub," and Low Ger. rubbeling "rough, uneven," or similar words in Scandinavian (cf. Dan. rubbe "to rub, scrub," Norw. rubba), of uncertain origin. Hamlet's there's the rub (1602) preserves a noun sense of "obstacle, inequality on ground" first recorded 1586 and common in 17c. To rub (someone) the wrong way is from 1883. To rub noses in greeting as a sign of friendship (attested from 1822) formerly was common among Eskimos, Maoris, and some other Pacific Islanders. Rub out "obliterate" is from 1567; underworld slang sense of "kill" is recorded from 1848, Amer.Eng. Rub off "have an influence on" is recorded from 1959.
2. Inherited from Middle English rubben, of unknown origin; possibly ultimately from Proto-Germanic *rubbōną, related to *reufaną (“to tear”).
3. Cognate with Saterland Frisian rubje (“to rub, scrape”), German Low German rubben (“to rub”), Low German rubblig (“rough, uneven”), Dutch robben, rubben (“to rub smooth; scrape; scrub”), Danish rubbe (“to rub, scrub”), Icelandic and Norwegian rubba (“to scrape”).
4. More at reave.
5. Compare typologically Latin fricō < friō < Proto-Indo-European *bʰreyH- (whence also Russian брить (britʹ, “to shave”)). See: Middle English 'rubben', Middle English 'rubben', Frisian, Saterlandic 'rubje', Dutch 'robben', Danish 'rubbe'.

Verbs referencing "rub"

Manx rub, Swedish rubba, Frisian, Saterlandic rubje, Welsh rhwbio.

Sample Sentences

  • [...] in her pocket-handkerchief; and old Dinah, with tears streaming down her black, honest face, was ejaculating, “ Lord have mercy on us ! ” with all the fervor of a camp-meeting; — while old Cudjoe, rubbing his eyes very hard with his cuffs, and making a most uncommon variety of wry faces, occasionally responded in the same key, with great fervor. Our senator was a statesman, and of course could not be [...] (Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
  • “ It's the last time, ” he said. Aunt Chloe did not answer, only rubbed away over and over on the coarse shirt, already as smooth as hands could make it; and finally setting her iron suddenly down with a despairing plunge, she sat down to the table, and “ lifted up her [...] (Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
  • [...] is a good deal of noise. The day is then just breaking. Everybody wakes at the same time. Some are self-possessed directly, and some are much perplexed to make out where they are until they have rubbed their eyes, and leaning on one elbow, looked about them. Some yawn, some groan, nearly all spit, and a few get up. I am among the risers: for it is easy to feel, without going into the fresh air, [...] (American Notes for General Circulation)
  • [...] as I moved, that he might look at it the better; and he frequently dived into narrow places after me at the risk of his life, that he might have the satisfaction of passing his hand up the back, and rubbing it the wrong way. (American Notes for General Circulation)
  • “ What does thee want, father ? ” said Rachel, rubbing her floury hands, as she went into the porch. (Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
  • When she awoke, she found herself snugly tucked up on the bed, with a blanket over her, and little Ruth rubbing her hands with camphor. She opened her eyes in a state of dreamy, delicious languor, such as one who has long been bearing a heavy load, and now feels it gone, and would rest. The tension of the [...] (Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
  • [...] his lazy, semi-drunken glance, as he stood regarding us with folded arms: poising himself alternately upon his toes and heels. On being addressed by one of the party, he drew nearer, and said, rubbing his chin (which scraped under his horny hand like fresh gravel beneath a nailed shoe ), that he was from Delaware, and had lately bought a farm ‘down there, ’ pointing into one of the marshes where [...] (American Notes for General Circulation)
  • ‘To the old country, sir, ’ I rejoin. Doctor Crocus looks round upon the crowd to observe the effect he produces, rubs his hands, and says, in a very loud voice: (American Notes for General Circulation)
  • “ Why, Missis said I must ’ fess; and I couldn't think of nothin ’ else to ’ fess, ” said Topsy, rubbing her eyes. (Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
  • “ What's this, Dodo, you little lazy dog ! you haven't rubbed my horse down, this morning. ” (Uncle Tom’s Cabin)