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
Police said the people involved were in their late teens to early 20s and that handguns were used in the shooting. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 4 July 2026 The World Cup match on July 3 will have an extra touch of Kansas City when two area teens walk the field before the match. — Zuri Primos july 3, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026 But when McGinley was a teen-ager, Michael became sick with AIDS and moved home to New Jersey. — Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 4 July 2026 The teen was arraigned Thursday, July 2, in Pomona Superior Court. — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 3 July 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

See All Rhymes for teen

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 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

teen

noun
ˈtēn
: teenager
teen adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on teen

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for teen

Nglish: Translation of teen for Spanish Speakers

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