Word
rubble
Phoneticsrub·ble, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɹəbəɫ/
UK/ɹˈʌbəl/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the broken pieces of brick, stone, or concrete that are left after a building is destroyed.
n. the fragmented remains of stone, brick, or concrete resulting from the demolition or destruction of a structure.
Examples
“Rescue workers searched through the rubble for survivors.”
“After the earthquake, the city streets were filled with rubble from collapsed apartment buildings.”
“The historical site was reduced to a heap of smoking rubble, leaving archaeologists to piece together the remnants of the ancient temple from the debris.”
Examples
simple
“Rescue workers searched through the rubble for survivors.”
contextual
“After the earthquake, the city streets were filled with rubble from collapsed apartment buildings.”
complex
“The historical site was reduced to a heap of smoking rubble, leaving archaeologists to piece together the remnants of the ancient temple from the debris.”
Usage
Typically functions as a collective noun for the mass of debris; rarely used in the plural.
Real-World Examples
“One thing became clear to me; until rubble is removed, life cannot fully restart.” “Back in Pathapur, Pooja sits in the verandah of the family's remaining house and points towards the rubble where the first one stood.” Etymology
Inherited from Middle English rouble, rubel, robel, robeil, from Anglo-Norman robel (“bits of broken stone”). Presumably related to rubbish, originally of same meaning (waste material, bits of stone, rubble). Ultimately presumably from Old Norse rubba (“to huddle, crowd together, heap up", possibly also "to rub, scrape”), from Proto-Germanic rubbōną (“to rub, scrape”), related to Proto-Germanic reufaną (“to tear”), raubōną (“to rob, steal, plunder”), perhaps via Old French robe (English rob (“steal”)) in sense of “plunder, destroy”; see also Middle English, Middle French -el.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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