rub – English verb conjugation

English verb forms of rub

Nominal Forms

Infinitive: to rub
Participle: rubbed
Gerund: rubbing

Cognates

See the 4 cognates of rub

Indicative

Present

Irub
yourub
he;she;itrubs
werub
yourub
theyrub

Perfect

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

Past

Irubbed
yourubbed
he;she;itrubbed
werubbed
yourubbed
theyrubbed

Pluperfect

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

Future

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

Future Perfect

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

Subjunctive

Present

Irub
yourub
he;she;itrub
werub
yourub
theyrub

Perfect

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

Imperfect

Irubbed
yourubbed
he;she;itrubbed
werubbed
yourubbed
theyrubbed

Pluperfect

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

Conditional

Present

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

Perfect

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

Imperative

yourub
weLet's rub
yourub

Progressive (Continuous) Forms

Indicative

Present

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

Perfect

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

Past

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

Pluperfect

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

Future

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

Future Perfect

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

Conditional

Present

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

Perfect

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

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)