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 of cub

• 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

Yellowstone visitors also found themselves on the wrong end of an encounter with a protective mother bear and her cubs near Old Faithful. —Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026

The attacks that do happen turn on particular bad luck, a surprise meeting at close range or a female defending cubs. —John Drake, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026

With too much noise, the cub might get the urge to roam far away, again possibly removing it from proximity to its mother. —Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 13 June 2026

Flamingo Gardens welcomed two orphaned American black bear cubs, Bentley and Treena, to their permanent new habitat in Broward County. —Joe Cavaretta, Sun Sentinel, 11 June 2026

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