Word
newbie
Phoneticsnew·bie, stress on the first syllable
/ˈnubi/
Definition
n. a person who is new to a job, activity, or group. It describes someone who is still learning the basics.
n. a person who is new to a particular activity, profession, or social group. Informal in register.
Examples
“The office hired a newbie to help with the project.”
“As a total newbie to the software, I found the interface confusing at first.”
“The online gaming community often provides dedicated servers for newbies to learn the mechanics without facing experienced players.”
Examples
simple
“The office hired a newbie to help with the project.”
contextual
“As a total newbie to the software, I found the interface confusing at first.”
complex
“The online gaming community often provides dedicated servers for newbies to learn the mechanics without facing experienced players.”
Real-World Examples
“After all, as a newbie to the gig he probably didn’t know any better.” “It doesn’t matter if you’re a newbie writer who’s never written anything at all.” Etymology
Coined in 1990s Internet culture, on Usenet and early online forums. It most likely grew out of 'new boy', old school and armed-forces slang for a fresh arrival — US soldiers in Vietnam already called a newcomer a 'newby'. Online gaming carried it into everyday English, along with the clipped forms 'newb' and 'noob'.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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