rub – English verb conjugation

English verb forms of rub

Nominal Forms

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

Cognates

See the 4 cognates of rub

Indicative

Present

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

Perfect

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

Past

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

Pluperfect

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

Future

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

Future Perfect

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

Subjunctive

Present

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

Perfect

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

Imperfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Conditional

Present

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

Perfect

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

Imperative

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

Progressive (Continuous) Forms

Indicative

Present

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

Perfect

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

Past

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

Pluperfect

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

Future

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

Future Perfect

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

Conditional

Present

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

Perfect

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

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)