often attributive
scrubbed; scrubbing
1
2
1
: to use hard rubbing in cleaning
2
: to prepare for performing surgery by scrubbing oneself
1
: an act or instance of scrubbing
especially
: cancellation
2
a
: one that scrubs
b
: a powerful and especially cosmetic cleanser
3
scrubs plural
: loose-fitting clothing worn by hospital staff
surgical scrubs
Synonyms
Examples of scrub in a Sentence
Verb
We scrubbed and scrubbed until the floor was clean.
They scrubbed the game because of the bad weather.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2024
The scrubs brand will also donate 100% of proceeds from each Iris Five Pocket Top sold directly to the foundation.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 3 May 2024
Seeing you in scrubs will be a new experience for your fans.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 May 2024
There are two scrub stations and a shower/steam room.
—David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 2 May 2024
The area also has an indoor hammam experience, followed by a pink Himalayan salt scrub and a cool shower.
—Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2024
The first scrub on Tuesday was due to issues with the oxidizer tank in the rocket’s central power unit, while Wednesday’s scrub was caused by a glitch in the engine start control system, according to The Moscow Times.
—George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 11 Apr. 2024
During migration season in Arizona, these hummingbirds can be observed in a variety of habitats, including desert scrub and riparian areas.
—The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
Kapoor explained lip scrubs exfoliate the skin, specifically the stratum corneum.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
Leonora Epstein, Peoplemag, 24 Apr. 2024
Every image was scrubbed, and all records from his tenure as a Trojan were tagged with an asterisk.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
Homeland Security Investigations will remain a branch of ICE but will debut its own website next week – scrubbed of ICE insignia — and give employees new email addresses.
—Nick Miroff, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
The eggs can also survive for a year without water — even through winter temperatures, so cleaning or scrubbing any containers that have eggs can help remove them.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Be sure to scrub the top, bottom and inner edges of the grates to thoroughly clean.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Most of your cleaning power should come from hot water and gentle scrubbing or brushing, the way cast-iron pots like Chinese woks and Indian kadai are traditionally cleaned.
—Julia Moskin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Netanyahu could say the sky is blue and a thousand fact-checkers would scrub his claim for signs of misinformation.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 6 Apr. 2024
Use a sponge or soft brush to gently scrub the surface to remove food particles.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Noun
After a brief hike through some scrub, Wall finds a creosote bush studded with holes at the roots — evidence of pack rats that will provide the snake with sustenance.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2024
The scrubs brand will also donate 100% of proceeds from each Iris Five Pocket Top sold directly to the foundation.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 3 May 2024
Seeing you in scrubs will be a new experience for your fans.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 May 2024
There are two scrub stations and a shower/steam room.
—David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 2 May 2024
The area also has an indoor hammam experience, followed by a pink Himalayan salt scrub and a cool shower.
—Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2024
The first scrub on Tuesday was due to issues with the oxidizer tank in the rocket’s central power unit, while Wednesday’s scrub was caused by a glitch in the engine start control system, according to The Moscow Times.
—George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 11 Apr. 2024
During migration season in Arizona, these hummingbirds can be observed in a variety of habitats, including desert scrub and riparian areas.
—The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
Kapoor explained lip scrubs exfoliate the skin, specifically the stratum corneum.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
Verb
Even Martha Stewart is hopping on the popular trend, donning matching loungewear while scrubbing the kitchen floor — and looking stylish while doing it.
—Leonora Epstein, Peoplemag, 24 Apr. 2024
Every image was scrubbed, and all records from his tenure as a Trojan were tagged with an asterisk.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
Homeland Security Investigations will remain a branch of ICE but will debut its own website next week – scrubbed of ICE insignia — and give employees new email addresses.
—Nick Miroff, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
The eggs can also survive for a year without water — even through winter temperatures, so cleaning or scrubbing any containers that have eggs can help remove them.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Be sure to scrub the top, bottom and inner edges of the grates to thoroughly clean.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Most of your cleaning power should come from hot water and gentle scrubbing or brushing, the way cast-iron pots like Chinese woks and Indian kadai are traditionally cleaned.
—Julia Moskin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Netanyahu could say the sky is blue and a thousand fact-checkers would scrub his claim for signs of misinformation.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 6 Apr. 2024
Use a sponge or soft brush to gently scrub the surface to remove food particles.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scrub.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near scrub
Cite this Entry
“Scrub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrub. Accessed 8 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scrub
1 of 3 noun1
a
: a thick growth of small or stunted shrubs or trees
b
: an area of land covered with scrub
2
: a domestic animal of mixed or unknown parentage and usually inferior build
3
: a person of small size or low social rank
4
: a player not belonging to the first string
scrub
adjective
scrub
2 of 3 verb
scrubbed; scrubbing
: to rub hard in cleaning or washing
scrub clothes
scrubber
noun
scrub
3 of 3 noun
: an act or instance of scrubbing
Medical Definition
scrub
1 of 2 verb
scrubbed; scrubbing
: to clean and disinfect (the hands and forearms) before participating in surgery
: to prepare for surgery by scrubbing oneself
scrub
2 of 2 noun1
: an act or instance of scrubbing
a surgical scrub
2
plural
: loose-fitting clothing worn by hospital staff
surgical scrubs
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