1
: a young dog
also
: one of the young of various animals (such as a seal or rat)
2
Examples of pup in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tj MacIas, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
The guys are both in their 80s — Daltrey is 81, while Townshend is just a young pup at 80 — so, really, one of these days has to be the last time, right?
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
According to the American Kennel Club, human intervention in breeding and care has made male dogs less essential to pup survival, and in fact, fathers can sometimes be more of a distraction than a help.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pup
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
The shyness could play a factor in one of the reasons why the spry pup is still under the care of the shelter.
—Tj MacIas, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
The guys are both in their 80s — Daltrey is 81, while Townshend is just a young pup at 80 — so, really, one of these days has to be the last time, right?
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
As much of a character as any of the humans on the series, pup Eddie — played by Jack Russell terrier Moose — lived a long life, dying in 2006 at age 16.
—Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
According to the American Kennel Club, human intervention in breeding and care has made male dogs less essential to pup survival, and in fact, fathers can sometimes be more of a distraction than a help.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pup
Cite this Entry
“Pup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pup. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share