teen

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈtēn How to pronounce teen (audio)
Synonyms of teennext
: a teenage person : teenager
teen adjective

teen

2 of 2

noun (2)

archaic
: misery, affliction

Examples of teen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Just know that kids ages 3-12 are an additional cost, while the teen club for those 13-17 is complimentary. — Megan Dubois, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026 The son of Taiwanese immigrants, Hsu was a precocious talent and became a professional skateboarder in his mid-teens. — Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026 The new show Sterling Point features a mysterious inheritance, a teen love triangle and deep generational lies and secrets. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026 Throughout her childhood and into her teens, she’d land roles in a handful of films, as well as star in the web series Crown Lake. — Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for teen

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English tene, from Old English tēona injury, grief; akin to Old Norse tjōn loss, damage

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1818, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of teen was in the 13th century

Rhymes for teen

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Browse Nearby Words

teem with rain
teen
teenage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Teen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teen. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

teen

noun
ˈtēn
: teenager
teen adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on teen

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