What does ribbed mean?
Ribbed is chiefly an adjective describing something with a series of raised lines, ridges, or structural ribs. It is especially common in textile and design contexts, as with ribbed sweaters, ribbed fabric, and ribbed glass, and it can also describe ribbed masonry, pottery, or other objects whose surface or structure contains raised sections. The word may additionally function as the past tense and past participle of rib, meaning to tease, needled, or playfully provoke someone. In that use, it usually suggests informality and good-natured amusement, though the teasing can occasionally be more pointed. Ribbed is therefore useful when identifying a physical texture or construction, while its verbal sense belongs to conversational English. Confusion with “ripped,” which indicates tearing rather than ridging, is possible in speech or hurried writing.
Having raised ridges or ribs; formed with a series of ribs or ridges.
"The sweater is made from soft, ribbed cotton."
Commonly used for textiles, glass, pottery, masonry, and other objects distinguished by a ridged structure or surface.
Teased, needled, or playfully provoked someone.
"They ribbed their teammate after the final whistle."
The past tense and past participle of rib; usually informal and often affectionate or humorous in tone.
A ribbed sweater gets its distinctive texture from raised lines of knitted fabric—and the word can also describe a good-natured tease.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ribbed come from?
The adjective ribbed was formed from the noun rib by adding the suffix -ed, a construction that developed from the older sense of “provided with ribs.” The noun rib comes through Middle English from Old Norse ribbor and ultimately from a Germanic root associated with bones or projecting ridges. It has close relatives in Dutch rib and German Rippe. The separate verb rib developed in the 16th century in the figurative sense of teasing or annoying someone.
How ribbed is actually used
The adjective is common in descriptions of fabric, glass, masonry, pottery, and similar manufactured objects. The verbal form is usually informal and often implies affectionate or playful teasing rather than serious hostility.
Easily confused with ribbed
Ribbed describes a surface with raised ridges, while ripped means torn or divided.