rub off
verb
rubbed off; rubbing off; rubs off
: to become transferred
bad habits rubbed off on them
carbon rubs off on your hands
Examples of rub off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Though Cee Cee prompts some independence in her friend, Bertie’s sheen hasn’t rubbed off on her needy pal. —
Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026 A bit of Madonna must have rubbed off during that moment when the pair were collaborating, because Toki has never been more of a pop diva. —E.r. Pulgar, Pitchfork, 16 Apr. 2026 Joining the club midway through a relegation battle says a lot about their character, which would’ve rubbed off on their team-mates. —Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026 Many are even swapping their profile photos for pictures of Jenner, hoping some of her famously sharp business instincts might rub off. —Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rub off
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026 A bit of Madonna must have rubbed off during that moment when the pair were collaborating, because Toki has never been more of a pop diva. —E.r. Pulgar, Pitchfork, 16 Apr. 2026 Joining the club midway through a relegation battle says a lot about their character, which would’ve rubbed off on their team-mates. —Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026 Many are even swapping their profile photos for pictures of Jenner, hoping some of her famously sharp business instincts might rub off. —Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rub off
Cite this Entry
“Rub off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/rub%20off. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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