rub – English verb conjugation

English verb forms of rub

Nominal Forms

Infinitive: to rub down sb
Participle: rubbed down sb
Gerund: rubbing down sb

Cognates

See the 4 cognates of rub

Indicative

Present

Irub down sb
yourub down sb
he;she;itrubs down sb
werub down sb
yourub down sb
theyrub down sb

Perfect

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

Past

Irubbed down sb
yourubbed down sb
he;she;itrubbed down sb
werubbed down sb
yourubbed down sb
theyrubbed down sb

Pluperfect

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

Future

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

Future Perfect

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

Subjunctive

Present

Irub down sb
yourub down sb
he;she;itrub down sb
werub down sb
yourub down sb
theyrub down sb

Perfect

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

Imperfect

Irubbed down sb
yourubbed down sb
he;she;itrubbed down sb
werubbed down sb
yourubbed down sb
theyrubbed down sb

Pluperfect

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

Conditional

Present

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

Perfect

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

Imperative

yourub down sb
weLet's rub down sb
yourub down sb

Progressive (Continuous) Forms

Indicative

Present

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

Perfect

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

Past

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

Pluperfect

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

Future

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

Future Perfect

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

Conditional

Present

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

Perfect

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

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)