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

Another guest star emerges when Andy Samberg pops in as the dead bear cub that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently admitted to dumping in Central Park. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 3 Nov. 2024

The final buyers in the Arabian Peninsula may pay up to $25,000 per cheetah cub. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

Do not try to approach bear cubs, no matter the situation. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2024

Poets and cub scouts, romantics and scientists, people young and old around the world have looked up and been dazzled by the flecks of light speckled across the night’s inky canvas. —Abbey Stone, SELF, 31 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