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
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
The cubs’ mother, Molly, arrived at the zoo from Sunset Zoo in Kansas last April.
—
Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
What readers are saying The comments on the article about sloth bears at the National Zoo focus on the birth of two sloth bear cubs and the uncertainty surrounding the identity of their father.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
That meant finding the bear involved – which, based on witness statements, was a mother grizzly with two cubs.
—Emily Wanderer, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
Someone offered water to the cub.
—Linda Gregerson, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cub
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Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
What readers are saying The comments on the article about sloth bears at the National Zoo focus on the birth of two sloth bear cubs and the uncertainty surrounding the identity of their father.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
That meant finding the bear involved – which, based on witness statements, was a mother grizzly with two cubs.
—Emily Wanderer, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
Someone offered water to the cub.
—Linda Gregerson, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cub
Cite this Entry
“Cub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cub. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cub
noun1
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
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