# teen

/ˈtin/ (US) · /tˈiːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/teen
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a teenager

noun · CEFR A2

a person who is between 13 and 19 years old.

For teachers: a person in their teens, specifically between the ages of 13 and 19 inclusive.

- The shop was full of teens looking at the latest video games.
- Marketing agencies often struggle to capture the attention of teens, whose consumption habits shift rapidly in response to social media trends.

### 2. related to teenagers

adjective · CEFR B1

relating to or made for people between 13 and 19 years old.

For teachers: pertaining to the period of adolescence or characteristic of teenagers; typically used attributively.

- She writes stories for a popular teen magazine.
- The director's latest project is a teen drama that explores the complexities of modern high school friendships.

### 3. grief or trouble

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

a very old word for sadness, pain, or trouble.

For teachers: misery, grief, or vexation. This sense is restricted to historical or poetic contexts and is not found in modern speech.

- The old poem spoke of a heart filled with teen and longing.
- The protagonist's journey was marked by much teen and tribulation, reflecting the somber themes common in medieval verse.

Teaching tip: This sense is entirely archaic; learners will only encounter it in historical literature like Shakespeare or Middle English texts.

## Examples

- The local library has a special section for teens.
- Many clothing brands focus their marketing efforts on teens who are active on social media.
- The study examines how modern teens navigate the transition to adulthood in an increasingly digital landscape, focusing specifically on their social interactions and mental health.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.