mature

1 of 2

adjective

ma·​ture mə-ˈchu̇r How to pronounce mature (audio)
-ˈchər,
also
-ˈtu̇r How to pronounce mature (audio)
-ˈtyu̇r
maturer; maturest
1
: based on slow careful consideration
a mature judgment
2
a(1)
: having completed natural growth and development : ripe
mature fruit
(2)
: having undergone maturation
b
: having attained a final or desired state
mature wine
c
: having achieved a low but stable growth rate
paper is a mature industry
d
: of, relating to, or being an older adult : elderly
airline discounts for mature travelers
3
a
: of or relating to a condition of full development
a man of mature years
b
: characteristic of or suitable to a mature individual
mature outlook
a show with mature content
4
: due for payment
a mature loan
5
: belonging to the middle portion of a cycle of erosion
a mature stream
maturely adverb

mature

2 of 2

verb

matured; maturing

transitive verb

: to bring to maturity or completion

intransitive verb

1
: to become fully developed or ripe
2
: to become due

Examples of mature in a Sentence

Adjective She's very mature for her age. He has a mature outlook on life. His parents didn't think he was mature enough to live on his own. Their bodies were mature, but they still behaved like children. After mature reflection, he concluded that he had been mistaken. Verb Girls mature earlier than boys both physically and mentally. Her talent is maturing slowly. Wine and cheese mature with age. The bond matures in 10 years.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Her mature sense of artistry and movement is what stands out the most with Makayla. Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024 Invisible from the street behind layers of mature trees and tall hedges, the home’s entryway offers a vaulted ceiling and abundant white oak, design features that carry on throughout the rest of the house. James McClain, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024 Colors range from pristine white to peachy pink and creamy yellow, and mature plants put on a truly stellar show in full bloom. Marissa Wu, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2024 But in the world of venture capital, where investors pride themselves on being mature counselors to brilliant-but-impulsive founders, the public dispute that broke out between Andreessen and Khosla over the past few days qualifies as a remarkable rumpus. Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 Repotting Most young bonsai trees need repotting every two years, while more mature trees can be in the same pot for up to five years. Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024 Developed on the site of an existing golf course dotted with mature oak trees, the picture-postcard-worthy resort offers a welcome center, nine-hole golf course, 65,000-gallon swimming pool; tennis and pickleball courts and clubhouse overlooking a lake. Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The sap and mature fruit of the calophyllum inophyllum tree, however, can be poisonous to humans and animals if ingested — it was apparently crushed and used as rat poison at one time. Sophia Panych, Allure, 29 Feb. 2024 Researching the plant’s growth habits will allow its mature size to guide you in choosing the right plant for the perfect spot. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024
Verb
In the next scene, set six years later, their friendship has matured and prospered, but it’s tested by family dynamics and losses, trust issues, personal ambitions and differing opinions on James’ decision to leave for Miami. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024 It was then aged in barrels previously used to mature Maverick Whiskey for a total of two years and two months. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 The next step has proved prohibitively challenging: coaxing that sludge of cells to mature into different types—fat, muscle, connective tissue—and arranging them in a structure resembling a solid cut of meat. Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024 Not new to the cyber game, fraud-mitigating AI has now matured to a level that is being integrated into standard fraud-prevention systems. Melissa Russell, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The barrels used to create Batch Proof are drawn from different dates of production and matured in various warehouses and on different floors within those warehouses. The Courier-Journal, 26 Feb. 2024 The gaslighter is the person who never matured to that point. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2024 After maturing and dying, the remains the succulent plant break off at the root and are blown away by wind. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024 Young horses growing, maturing, learning — this is the time for their jumps and leaps in development and into the Derby conversation. Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mature.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Middle English, from Latin maturus ripe; akin to Latin mane in the morning, manus good

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of mature was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near mature

Cite this Entry

“Mature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mature. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mature

1 of 2 adjective
ma·​ture mə-ˈt(y)u̇(ə)r How to pronounce mature (audio)
maturer; maturest
1
: fully thought out
a mature plan
2
a
: fully grown or developed : adult, ripe
mature fruit
b
: having reached a final or desired state
mature wine
3
: of or relating to a condition of full development
a mature outlook
4
: due for payment
the note becomes mature in 90 days
maturely adverb

mature

2 of 2 verb
matured; maturing
1
: to bring to maturity or completion
matured my plans
2
: to become fully developed or ripe

Medical Definition

mature

1 of 2 adjective
ma·​ture
mə-ˈt(y)u̇(ə)r also -ˈchu̇(ə)r
maturer; maturest
1
: having completed natural growth and development
a mature ovary
2
: having undergone maturation
mature germ cells

mature

2 of 2 verb
matured; maturing

transitive verb

: to bring to maturity or completion

intransitive verb

: to become fully developed or ripe
maturer noun

Legal Definition

mature

verb
ma·​ture
mə-ˈtu̇r, -ˈchu̇r
matured; maturing

transitive verb

: to bring to maturity
a policy matured by the death of the insured

intransitive verb

: to become due, payable, or enforceable
specifically : to entitle one to immediate enjoyment of benefits
her pension right matured upon retirement
compare vest
mature adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on mature

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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