young

play

adjective \ ˈyəŋ \

Definition of young

younger play \ˈyəŋ-gər\; youngest play \ˈyəŋ-gəst\

1 a :being in the first or an early stage of life, growth, or development

b :junior 1a

c :of an early, tender, or desirable age for use as food or drink

fresh young lamb

a young wine

2 :having little experience

3 a :recently come into being :new

a young publishing company

b :youthful 5

4 :of, relating to, or having the characteristics of youth or a young person

young at heart

5 capitalized :representing a new or rejuvenated especially political group or movement

—

youngish

play \ˈyəŋ-ish\ adjective

—

youngness

play \ˈyəŋ-nəs\ noun

See young defined for English-language learners

See young defined for kids

Examples of young in a Sentence

He looks young for his age.
A very nice young man greeted us at the door.
Young people today have a lot of opportunities.
He dreamed of being an artist when he was young.
The movie isn't suitable for young viewers.
He's still too young to buy alcohol legally.
Our youngest daughter just started school.
“When I was young,” the man said, “the world was a different place.”
The season is still young.

Recent Examples of young from the Web

Others among the dead include a woman whose body was discovered floating in Beaumont, a man who stepped on a live electrical wire in floodwaters, and a woman who died after she and her young daughter were swept into a drainage canal in Beaumont.

— juan a. lozano, The Seattle Times, "Houston sees glimmer of hope after Harvey but threats loom," 30 Aug. 2017
The Cornell Art Museum at Old School Square kicks off an exhibit of works by more than 100 young artists, ages 7-14, who attended the Palm Beach State College summer youth art classes.

— jennifer jhon, South Florida Parenting, "What to do with the kids this weekend: Free zoo, bowling and crafts events," 30 Aug. 2017
Historically, audio engineering has relied on apprenticeships: An established engineer will find a younger person with potential and interest, take him under his wing, and teach him the job.

— joy lanzendorfer, The Atlantic, "Why Aren’t There More Women Working in Audio?," 30 Aug. 2017
Alex, at 24, would also be the youngest to hold the title.

— elizabeth marie himchak, Rancho Bernardo, "Rancho Bernardo Honorary Mayor candidate Alex Lawn holds ‘The Big Event’," 30 Aug. 2017
Kristie Barnett, a Crossfit trainer in Houston, went to volunteer, hosting a mini Crossfit class for the young kids cooped up in the shelter.

— jen kirby, Daily Intelligencer, "‘It Took Two Boat Rides’: Texans on Surviving the Storm," 30 Aug. 2017
The former Texas governor ended on a positive note, offering words of encouragement to the young athletes and all those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

— Southern Living, "George W. Bush Offers Words of Encouragement to SMU Football Players from Houston," 30 Aug. 2017
But many young adults simply know her as someone who died in a car crash.

— claire zillman, Fortune, "Fighting Sexism with Fake Male Co-Founder, Melania’s Shoe Disaster, and Michelle Bachelet’s Mission," 30 Aug. 2017
Some members of the younger generation had lost respect for their elders, provoking arguments between fathers and sons.

— Longreads, "America’s First Addiction Epidemic," 29 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'young.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of young

Middle English yong, from Old English geong; akin to Old High German jung young, Latin juvenis

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

young Synonyms

Synonyms

adolescent, immature, juvenile, youngish, youthful

Antonyms

adult, grown-up, mature, matured

Related Words

ephebic, minor, preteen, subadult, teenage (or teenaged), underage; embryonic, emergent; callow, green, inexperienced, puerile, raw; babyish, childish, childlike, infantile, infantine, kiddish; undeveloped, unfinished, unfledged, unformed, unripe, unripened; blooming, blossoming, burgeoning, flourishing, flowering

Near Antonyms

aged, aging (or ageing), ancient, elderly, geriatric, long-lived, old, older, oldish, senescent, senior; full-blown, full-fledged; golden, mellow, ripe, ripened; middle-aged; anile, decrepit, doddering, over-the-hill, senile, spavined, tottery

young

noun

Definition of young

plural young

1 plural

a :young persons :youth

b :immature offspring —used especially of animals

2 :a single recently born or hatched animal

— with young

of a female animal

:pregnant

See young defined for English-language learners

Examples of young in a Sentence

music that appeals to the young
The very young and the elderly are particularly sensitive to the disease.
a robin feeding her young
The young of a wolf are called pups.

Recent Examples of young from the Web

In the wild, males will sometimes kill the young of another male and replace them with his own.

— paul nicklen, National Geographic, "6 Animals That Are Stellar Stepdads," 13 June 2017

First Known Use of young

before 12th century

Young

play

biographical name \ ˈyəŋ \

Definition of Young

Andrew Jackson, Jr. 1932– U.S. ambassador to U.N. (1977–79)

Young

biographical name

Definition of Young

Brig*ham play \ˈbri-gəm\ 1801–1877 American Mormon leader

Young

biographical name

Definition of Young

Cy originally Denton True Young 1867–1955 American baseball player

Young

biographical name

Definition of Young

Owen D. 1874–1962 American lawyer

Young

biographical name

Definition of Young

Whitney Moore 1921–1971 American civil rights leader

YOUNG Defined for English Language Learners

young

play

adjective

Definition of young for English Language Learners

: in an early stage of life, growth, or development : not yet old
: recently formed, produced, started, etc.

young

noun

Definition of young for English Language Learners

the young : young people
: young animals, birds, etc.

YOUNG Defined for Kids

young

play

adjective \ ˈyəŋ \

Definition of young for Students

younger \ˈyəŋ-gər\; youngest \ˈyəŋ-gəst\

1 :being in the first or an early stage of life, growth, or development

young children

2 :lacking in experience

That reporter is still young and naive.

3 :recently formed, produced, or come into being :new

a young company

4 :youthful 1 Grandma says her grandchildren keep her young.

young

noun plural

Definition of young for Students

1 :young people

It's a story for young and old.

2 :immature or recently born offspring

a bear and her young

Medical Dictionary

young

play

noun \ ˈyəŋ \

medical Definition of young

plural young

1 :immature offspring —used especially of animals

2 :a single recently born or hatched animal

— with young

:pregnant —used of a female animal

Learn More about young

See words that rhyme with young Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for young Spanish Central: Translation of young Nglish: Translation of young for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of young for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about young

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young

Definition of young

youngish

youngness

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Examples of young in a Sentence

Recent Examples of young from the Web

Origin and Etymology of young

young Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

young

Definition of young

Examples of young in a Sentence

Recent Examples of young from the Web

First Known Use of young

Young

Definition of Young

Young

Definition of Young

Young

Definition of Young

Young

Definition of Young

Young

Definition of Young

YOUNG Defined for English Language Learners

young

Definition of young for English Language Learners

young

Definition of young for English Language Learners

YOUNG Defined for Kids

young

Definition of young for Students

young

Definition of young for Students

Medical Dictionary

young

medical Definition of young

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