WordGarden.iorubbery
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /rˈʌbəri/
US
- /ˈrəbəri/
Meanings
Adjective
made of rubber or resembling rubber in feel; springy and elastic
unpleasantly tough and elastic in texture, especially in food
feeling weak, shaky, or unsteady, especially in the legs
Beyond the definition
If something feels stretchy and springs back easily, it is likely rubbery. Think of a rubber band or a soft rubber toy: you can press, twist, or bend it, and it quickly returns to shape. This word is often used for things that feel elastic, springy, or a little hard to bite through.
In the kitchen, "rubbery" is rarely a compliment. If you overcook steak, eggs, or squid, they lose their softness and become rubbery and hard to chew. The word can also describe body feelings. After a hard run or a frightening moment, someone might say their legs feel rubbery, meaning weak, shaky, and not fully steady.
The word "rubbery" describes something that feels like rubber. It usually suggests a texture or movement that is flexible, elastic, springy, or oddly resistant. At its most literal, it can refer to materials such as rubber gloves, seals, tubing, or toys that bend easily and then return to shape.
In everyday English, though, the word often appears when people complain about food. Meat, eggs, cheese, mushrooms, or seafood can become rubbery if they are cooked too long or prepared badly. In that sense, the word means chewy in an unpleasant way: the food bounces against your teeth instead of breaking apart easily.
The word is also common in descriptions of the body. If your legs feel rubbery after a sprint, a shock, or a long period of stress, they feel weak, shaky, and unreliable, as if they might buckle. Here the idea is not that your legs are literally elastic, but that they no longer feel firm and strong.
More broadly, "rubbery" usually carries a clear sensory image. It can suggest a surface that gives under pressure, a texture that stretches or resists, or a movement that seems weak and unsteady. Depending on context, it may be neutral when talking about materials, but it is often negative when talking about food or physical condition.
Examples
- 1
Food texture
The chicken was rubbery because it had been reheated too long.
- 2
Grip texture
The phone case has a slightly rubbery surface, so it’s easy to grip.
- 3
Physical fatigue
By the end of the hike, my legs felt tired and rubbery.
- 4
Nervous reaction
Her knees went rubbery when she heard her name announced.
- Phraseknees went rubbery
suddenly felt weak and shaky, often from fear or nerves
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- rubberyadjective