1 B1 neutral
To remove a stain, mark, or residue by scrubbing vigorously
"She spent twenty minutes trying to scrub out the red wine stain on the tablecloth."
separable
scrub out
B2 neutral separable transitive
To remove something by scrubbing vigorously, or to clean the inside of something thoroughly
In plain English
To get rid of a stain or dirty mark by rubbing it hard with a brush or cloth
What does "scrub out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To clean the inside of a container, pot, or enclosed space by scrubbing
"He scrubbed out the old paint tins before using them for storage."
separable
3 C1 idiomatic neutral
(Medical) To complete the de-gowning and de-sterilisation process after a surgical procedure
"Once the operation was complete, the surgical team scrubbed out and headed to the break room."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To scrub (clean vigorously) something out — 'out' implies removing or eliminating something
Actually means
To get rid of a stain or dirty mark by rubbing it hard with a brush or cloth
Usage tip
Used both for removing specific marks/stains and for cleaning out the interior of containers or rooms. Also used informally in a medical context to mean completing the de-gowning process (opposite of 'scrub in').
Words that pair with "scrub out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
stain mark pot pan inside container
How to conjugate "scrub out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
scrub out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
scrubs out
he/she/it
Past simple
scrubed out
yesterday
Past participle
scrubed out
have + pp
-ing form
scrubing out
continuous
Hear "scrub out" in the wild
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Other ways to say "scrub out"
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