Meaning & use
rib
Last updated
to tease someone in a good-natured, playful way.
See it in a sentence
His friends ribbed him for weeks about tripping on stage during the ceremony.
Don't take it personally -- she ribs everyone she likes.
A note on using this word
As a verb, 'rib' is informal and always implies friendly, harmless teasing rather than genuine criticism; as a noun, a rib is one of the curved bones forming the chest cavity.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
one of the curved bones that form the wall of the chest, protecting the heart and lungs.
The X-ray showed a hairline fracture in one of his ribs.
Make it your own
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