cub

noun

ˈkəb 

1

a

: a young carnivorous mammal (such as a bear, fox, or lion)

b

: a young shark

2

: a young person

3

: apprentice

especially : an inexperienced newspaper reporter

Synonyms

• abecedarian
• apprentice
• babe
• beginner
• colt
• fledgling
• freshman
• greenhorn
• neophyte
• newbie
• newcomer
• novice
• novitiate
• punk
• recruit
• rook
• rookie
• tenderfoot
• tyro
• virgin

Examples of cub in a Sentence

the kind of big story that can propel a cub reporter into the stratosphere of the newspaper world

assigned to teach a bunch of young cubs how to play baseball

Recent Examples on the Web

Around 300 cheetahs cubs are poached and trafficked every year. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

The Smithsonian’s previous pair of pandas returned to China with their cub last November when their lease expired. —Nectar Gan, CNN, 15 Oct. 2024

Per the current agreement, any panda cubs born in the U.S. must be returned to China by age 4. —Mimi Montgomery, Axios, 14 Oct. 2024

The dominant male bear attacked one of the cubs, and Glazer wasn’t able to reach it in time. —Bailey Richards, People.com, 9 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably akin to Middle English cobbe leader of a group, head — more at cob

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cub

• cub reporter

Kids Definition

cub

noun

ˈkəb 

1

a

: a young flesh-eating mammal (as a bear, fox, or lion)

b

: a young shark

2

: a young person

3

: a person just learning a job : apprentice

a cub reporter

a cub pilot

4

: cub scout