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

Creator 3-in-1 Wild Animals Panda Family Kids and adults will love building and rebuilding this three-in-one set, which can be assembled into a panda bear eating bamboo with its cub, an orca swimming with its calf, and a penguin with its chick. —Mia Huelsbeck, People.com, 24 May 2025

The fox cub, identified as a Sechuran desert fox, appeared inside a house in Piura, Peru’s National Forest and Wildlife Service said in a May 6 news release. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025

Violations of the hunt's rules occurred, including the killing of cubs and pregnant females. —Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 21 May 2025

Officials aren’t sure what might have happened to the mama bear’s third yearling cub. —Brooke Baitinger, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2025

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

Rhymes for cub

• bub
• club
• dub
• grub
• hub
• nub
• pub
• rub
• scrub
• shrub
• snub
• stub

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