Grub — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈgrəb/

Meaning & Definition of Grub

Grub (verb)

  1. to clear by digging up roots and stumps
  2. to dig up by or as if by the roots
  3. to dig in the ground especially for something that is difficult to find or extract

Grub (noun)

  1. a soft thick wormlike larva of an insect (such as a beetle)
  2. one who does menial work, drudge
  3. a slovenly person

Grub (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. substances intended to be eaten

    "after the game, we headed to the diner for some hearty grub"

    similar: bread, chow, chuck (chiefly West), comestibles, eatables, eats, edibles, fare, food, foodstuffs, meat, provender, provisions, table, tucker (chiefly Australian), viands, victuals, vittles
    related: commissary, rations, supplies, aliment, nutriment, diet, nourishment, nurture, sustenance, mess, pap, ensilage, feed, fodder, forage, silage, slop, swill, feast, meal, refreshments, regale, repast, spread, board, dish, plate, platter, serving, finger food, natural food
    near: bane, poison, toxin, venom

  2. a person who does very hard or dull work

    "you may have to spend some time working as a grub before challenging work comes your way"

    similar: dogsbody (chiefly British), drone, drudge, drudger, foot soldier, grubber, grunt, laborer, peon, plugger, slave, slogger, toiler, worker
    related: workhorse, serf
    near: goldbrick, shirker, idler, lazybones, loafer, slouch, slug, sluggard

Grub (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to devote serious and sustained effort

    "grubbing away at the yard work before the first snow of the season"

    similar: bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), drudge, endeavor, fag, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, tug, work, sweat blood
    related: apply (oneself), buckle (down), dig in, hammer (away), knuckle down, pitch in, attack, drive, essay, try, exercise, exert, overexert, overwork, eke out, grind (out), put out, scrabble, scratch, trudge, wade
    near: break, ease (up), let up, slacken, bum, chill, dally, dillydally, footle, goldbrick, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, lounge, shirk, slack (off), veg out, bask, loll, relax, repose, rest, unwind, dabble, doodle, fool around, fribble, goof (around), hang, hang about (British), mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

Related Entry: Grub (about) (verb)

Grub (about) is a different word from Grub. The synonyms below are for grub (about), not for grub.

  1. as in poke (around)

    similar: poke (around), ascertain, descry, detect, determine, discover, ferret (out), find, find out, get, hit (on or upon), learn, locate, run down, scare up, track (down), explore, probe, prospect, skirmish, snoop, audit, check (out), examine, inspect, investigate, review, scan, scrutinize, survey, browse, glance (over), look over, frisk, pat down, shake down, peruse, study, comb, dig (through), dredge, hunt (through), rake, ransack, rifle, rummage, scour, search, sort (through), troll
    opposite: hide, abandon, lose, ignore, neglect

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Grub

The most common words with a similar meaning to Grub:

Chiefly West: chuck
Chiefly Australian: tucker
Chiefly British: dogsbody
bread, chow, comestibles, eatables, eats, edibles, fare, food, foodstuffs, meat, provender, provisions, table, viands, victuals, vittles, drone, drudge, drudger, foot soldier, grubber, grunt, laborer, peon, plugger, slave, slogger, toiler, worker, bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), endeavor, fag, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg (away), plod

Related Words for Grub

commissary, rations, supplies, aliment, nutriment, diet, nourishment, nurture, sustenance, mess, pap, ensilage, feed, fodder, forage, silage, slop, swill, feast, meal, refreshments, regale, repast, spread, board, dish, plate, platter, serving, finger food

Near Antonyms of Grub

bane, poison, toxin, venom, goldbrick, shirker, idler, lazybones, loafer, slouch, slug, sluggard, break, ease (up), let up, slacken, bum, chill, dally, dillydally, footle, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, lounge, shirk, slack (off)

Word Forms of Grub

Inflections: grubbed, grubbing

Derived words: grubber (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Grub

Middle English grubben; akin to Old English grafan to dig grave

First known use: 14th centuryt

Words & Phrases Containing Grub

Grub Street, cattle grub, common cattle grub, white grub

Frequently Asked Questions about Grub

What does "Grub" mean?

"Grub" means to clear by digging up roots and stumps. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to clear by digging up roots and stumps. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Grub"?

Other words for "Grub" include bread, chow, chuck, comestibles, eatables, eats, edibles and fare. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Grub" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Grub"?

There are 109 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Grub". Common alternatives include bread, chow, chuck, comestibles, eatables, eats, edibles, fare, food and foodstuffs.

How do you use "Grub" in a sentence?

Examples of "Grub" in a sentence: "after the game, we headed to the diner for some hearty grub"; "you may have to spend some time working as a grub before challenging work comes your way"; "grubbing away at the yard work before the first snow of the season".

Is "Grub" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Grub" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Grub"?

"Grub" is pronounced /ˈgrəb/.

What is the origin of the word "Grub"?

"Grub" comes from Middle English grubben; akin to Old English grafan to dig grave. First known use: 14th centuryt.

What is another word for "Grub" meaning "substances intended to be eaten"?

When "Grub" (noun) means substances intended to be eaten, synonyms include bread, chow, chuck, comestibles, eatables and eats.