Meaning & use
scrubbed
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“scrubbed” is a form of “scrub”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
Past form of scrub: cleaned something by rubbing it hard, usually with a brush, water and soap.
Grammar: Takes an object (scrubbed the pan) or stands alone (she scrubbed for an hour).
Patterns
- scrubbed something clean
- scrubbed at something
She scrubbed the pan until it shone.
He scrubbed his hands before dinner.
We scrubbed at the stain for twenty minutes.
verbtransitiveinformal
Canceled or called off, especially a planned event or launch because of a problem.
Grammar: Informal; often used in news about space launches.
Patterns
- scrubbed a launch
- a scrubbed mission
Engineers scrubbed the launch because of high winds.
The team scrubbed the trip when the forecast turned bad.
After a fuel leak, the mission was scrubbed.
verbtransitivecomputing
Removed information, such as names or errors, from a file or record.
Grammar: Computing and data use: scrubbed the data.
Patterns
- scrubbed something from something
The company scrubbed all personal details from the database.
She scrubbed her old posts from the site.
adjectivebefore a noun
Very clean-looking and neat, as if washed hard.
Grammar: Usually before faces, floors and tables: a scrubbed face.
Patterns
- a scrubbed face
- a scrubbed floor
The boys arrived with scrubbed faces and combed hair.
A scrubbed wooden table stood in the middle of the kitchen.
Common combinations
- scrubbed clean
- The kitchen floor was scrubbed clean.
- scrubbed the launch
- Officials scrubbed the launch after a sensor failed.
- scrubbed face
- He arrived with a scrubbed face and wet hair.
- scrubbed the pan
- She scrubbed the pan with steel wool.
- scrubbed from the record
- The comments were scrubbed from the record.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cleaned
- Cleaned is the general word for making something clean, whereas scrubbed adds the idea of hard rubbing.
- scoured
- Scoured suggests rubbing with something rough to remove stubborn dirt, so it is a little harsher than scrubbed.
- canceled
- Canceled is the neutral word for calling off an event, while scrubbed is informal and used for launches or plans stopped by trouble.
- called off
- Called off is a casual phrasal alternative that fits any event, not just launches.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: scrubbed or scrubs?
scrubbed vs scrubs
Scrubs are loose uniforms worn by hospital staff, a different noun from the verb form scrubbed.
Practice
The space agency ___ the launch at the last minute because of a faulty valve.
Choose one answer.
Scrubbed is the usual verb for calling off a launch because of a problem. Scoured means cleaned by hard rubbing, and scrubby and scribbled do not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “scrubbed”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.