grub

UK: /ˈgrʌb/ US: /grʌb/ ,(grub)

Inflections of 'grub' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

grubs

v 3rd person singular

grubbing

v pres p

grubbed

v past

grubbed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

grub /grʌb/   n., v., grubbed, grub•bing. 
n. 

1. Insects [countable] the thick-bodied, sluggish young of certain insects, esp. the beetle.
2. Slang Terms food:
   [uncountable] How's the grub in that place?

v. 

3. to dig out of the ground: [~ + object]
   The birds grubbed worms.
   [no object]
   They were grubbing for worms.
4. Slang Terms to scrounge:
   [~ + object] to grub a cigarette.

grub•ber, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

grub  (grub), n., v., grubbed, grub•bing. 
n. 

1. Insects the thick-bodied, sluggish larva of several insects, as of a scarab beetle.
2. a dull, plodding person;
   drudge.
3. an unkempt person.
4. Slang Terms food;
   victuals.
5. Agriculture any remaining roots or stumps after cutting vegetation to clear land for farming.

v.t. 

6. to dig;
   clear of roots, stumps, etc.
7. to dig up by the roots;
   uproot (often fol. by up or out).
8. Slang Terms to supply with food;
   feed.
9. Slang Terms to scrounge:
   to grub a cigarette.

v.i. 

10. to dig;
    search by or as if by digging:
    We grubbed through piles of old junk to find the deed.
11. to lead a laborious or groveling life;
    drudge:
    It's wonderful to have money after having to grub for so many years.
12. to engage in laborious study.
13. Slang Terms to eat;
    take food.

• 1250–1300; Middle English grubbe (noun, nominal), grubben (verb, verbal); akin to Old High German grubilōn to dig, German grübeln to rack (the brain), Old Norse gryfia hole, pit; see grave¹, groove

grub′ber, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

grub / ɡrʌb/ verb (grubs, grubbing, grubbed)

1. when tr, often followed by up or out: to search for and pull up (roots, stumps, etc) by digging in the ground
2. to dig up the surface of (ground, soil, etc), esp to clear away roots, stumps, etc
3. (intr; often followed by in or among) to search carefully
4. (intransitive) to work unceasingly, esp at a dull task or research

noun

1. the short legless larva of certain insects, esp beetles
2. food; victuals
3. a person who works hard, esp in a dull plodding way

Etymology: 13th Century: of Germanic origin; compare Old High German grubilōn to dig, German grübeln to rack one's brain, Middle Dutch grobben to scrape together; see grave³, groove