rubbish
Rubbish (noun) means (chiefly British) Waste material; trash or garbage. Example: “Take the rubbish out before the bin men come.”
How to use rubbish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBritish word for trash, or for nonsense; also used as an adjective meaning "bad," and as a verb meaning to criticize something.
This word (in all its senses) is much more common in British English; Americans typically say "garbage" or "trash" and "terrible" or "awful."
Word forms
more rubbish comparative, rubbisher comparative, rubbished past tense, rubbishes plural, rubbishes singular, most rubbish superlative, rubbishest superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Take the _____ out before the bin men come.
Etymology
From Middle English robous, meaning building waste or broken stone — its exact origin before that is uncertain.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “rubbish” mean?
The word “rubbish” means (chiefly British) Waste material; trash or garbage. In plain terms, british word for trash, or for nonsense; also used as an adjective meaning "bad," and as a verb meaning to criticize something.
How do you pronounce “rubbish”?
“Rubbish” is pronounced RUH-bihsh (/ˈɹʌbɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “rubbish” in a sentence?
Here is “rubbish” used in a sentence: “Take the rubbish out before the bin men come.”
What part of speech is “rubbish”?
Depending on how it is used, “rubbish” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “rubbish” come from?
The word “rubbish” comes from Middle English. From Middle English robous, meaning building waste or broken stone — its exact origin before that is uncertain.
Is “rubbish” a common word?
“Rubbish” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “rubbish” have?
“Rubbish” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (chiefly British) Waste material; trash or garbage.
What is the difference between "rubbish" and "garbage"?
Both mean waste material, but "rubbish" is chiefly British and "garbage" is chiefly American. "Rubbish" also carries extra meanings in British English, where it can mean nonsense or describe something of very poor quality.
What is the difference between "rubbish" and "trash"?
They are close in meaning, with "rubbish" being the usual British word for waste and "trash" the more common American one. In British usage "rubbish" also works as an informal adjective meaning bad, as in "the weather was rubbish."
Can "rubbish" be used as an adjective?
Yes. In informal British English, "rubbish" is used as an adjective meaning very poor in quality, as in "the film was rubbish" or "I'm rubbish at maths."
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