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

• novice
• apprentice
• rookie
• beginner
• freshman
• newcomer

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

Four lions, including two cubs, were also euthanized several weeks later to make room for a new male lion in the Danish zoo. —Jon Haworth, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2025

Two black bear cubs are being cared for in Ramona after they were found without a mother in Northern California and taken in by the San Diego Humane Society, officials said. —Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025

The grizzly and cubs carry on their walk, ignoring the two hikers. —Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025

The agency brought the 6-7-month-old cubs to the organization’s Ramona Wildlife Center for rehabilitation. —Brooke Baitinger, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 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