1
: not childish or immature : adult
2
: of, for, or characteristic of adults
insisted on wearing grown-up clothes
Examples of grown-up in a Sentence
Adjective
they have yet to find a grown-up way of handling their marital problems
Noun
once you turn 12, you get to eat with the grown-ups at Thanksgiving
Recent Examples on the Web
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Suffice to say, the film proves impressively grown-up about how far Bull must go to atone for his behavior.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 June 2025
Think freshwater pearl accents, delicate gold box chains, and grown-up takes on the vibrant beads that once ruled summer camp.
—Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 30 May 2025
As for your son himself, surely he is grown-up and intelligent enough to have sympathy for the family’s financial constraints, rather than resentment.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 20 May 2025
Hence, grown-up Chris is a nomadic misfit with two talents: sharpshooting and solving quadratic equations.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
For anyone feeling lost, old, or generally confused as to what the hell’s going on, here’s a grown-up’s guide to all the references and moments in A Minecraft Movie that are driving fans wild.
—Issy Van Der Velde, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
In its first season, Andor was cinematic, grown-up, grounded, and urgent, running bold choices or ideas, like deftly examining how oppressive administrations exert their political power.
—Photo: Courtesy Of Netflix., Refinery29, 1 Apr. 2025
Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors
Jamie Lynn Spears' daughter Maddie is all grown-up — and headed to prom (again)!
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
Clark Collis, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2023
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Adjective
A lot of fans will have grown-up during this time, just like the Stranger Things kids.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Suffice to say, the film proves impressively grown-up about how far Bull must go to atone for his behavior.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 June 2025
Think freshwater pearl accents, delicate gold box chains, and grown-up takes on the vibrant beads that once ruled summer camp.
—Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 30 May 2025
As for your son himself, surely he is grown-up and intelligent enough to have sympathy for the family’s financial constraints, rather than resentment.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 20 May 2025
Hence, grown-up Chris is a nomadic misfit with two talents: sharpshooting and solving quadratic equations.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
For anyone feeling lost, old, or generally confused as to what the hell’s going on, here’s a grown-up’s guide to all the references and moments in A Minecraft Movie that are driving fans wild.
—Issy Van Der Velde, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
In its first season, Andor was cinematic, grown-up, grounded, and urgent, running bold choices or ideas, like deftly examining how oppressive administrations exert their political power.
—Photo: Courtesy Of Netflix., Refinery29, 1 Apr. 2025
Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors
Jamie Lynn Spears' daughter Maddie is all grown-up — and headed to prom (again)!
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
Reportedly shot for less than $100,000, this tale of Pooh and Piglet all grown-up and running amok recently opened to box office success in Mexico and is currently playing on cinema screens around America.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Grown-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grown-up. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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