young

adjective

Save Word

\ ˈyəŋ

younger\ ˈyəŋ-gər

\; youngest\ ˈyəŋ-gəst

Definition of young

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

b : junior sense 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

3a : recently come into being : new a young publishing company

b : youthful sense 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

young

noun

plural young

Definition of young (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Other Words from young Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing young Learn More About young

Synonyms & Antonyms for young

Synonyms: Adjective

Antonyms: Adjective

Examples of young in a Sentence

Adjective 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. Noun 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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective With unemployment especially high in rural areas and among the young, Colombians were ready for a change. — Juan Forero, WSJ, 20 June 2022 But prescribed burning in the highly flammable oaks still could doom the young pines now growing, according to Sánchez Meador. — AZCentral.com, 20 June 2022 Lopiano, 75, finds examples of today’s young female athletes, such as Oregon basketball player Sedona Prince, being more willing to speak out when they are not treated fairly. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2022 After kicking off a rebuild in March 2021, the Magic already have significant young talent. — Khobi Price, Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2022 The young bowlers’ choreography is enough to leave their teammates’ mouths agape. — Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, 20 June 2022 The hatchery artifically spawns them and feeds the young before returning them to the wild. — Kellie Hwang, San Francisco Chronicle, 20 June 2022 A few weeks later, Abelseth contacted the Department of Child and Family Services to report that Barnes had allegedly pulled their child’s hair and ear, and that the young girl was afraid to go to his house. — Fox News, 20 June 2022 The film also details his visit to South Africa as an anti-apartheid activist accompanied by Ambassador Andrew Young, where Ashe spent most of his time in Soweto with young, Black, South Africans. — CNN, 20 June 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Way back in 2004, while promoting Man on Fire, Washington praised Fanning and her acting skills, even at that young of an age. — Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE.com, 16 June 2022 In the late 1970s, Jane Goodall’s research on chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania, showed that infanticide wasn’t only a male prerogative: The mother-daughter pair Pom and Passion also attacked the young of others, and ate them. — Rebecca Giggs, The Atlantic, 6 May 2022 Except that the young of any dairy cow is taken from the mother almost immediately. — Travis M. Andrews, Washington Post, 11 May 2022 Male chimps at West African sites have also been seen adopting the dependent young of a deceased or missing parent, a shouldering of fatherly duty at odds with newborn killings witnessed elsewhere. — Rebecca Giggs, The Atlantic, 6 May 2022 When successful, the male lions will even kill the young of their predecessors to bring the females into heat to rear their own offspring. — Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Mar. 2022 Of course, each of the kids are starting to show off their true personalities, even at this young of an age. — Tricia Despres, PEOPLE.com, 21 Mar. 2022 The number of offspring were cut in half, and many of the young of parents that were exposed to fear were less healthy than their non-traumatized peers. — Doug Johnson, Ars Technica, 7 Feb. 2022 Jay families sometimes remain together long enough for the young of the year to assist in raising the next generation. — Jim Williams, Star Tribune, 24 Nov. 2020 See More

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.

Learn More About young

Dictionary Entries Near young

you never know

young

Young

Statistics for young

Last Updated

22 Jun 2022

Cite this Entry

“Young.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/young. Accessed 1 Jul. 2022.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

More Definitions for young

young

adjective

\ ˈyəŋ

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

Kids Definition of young

(Entry 1 of 2)

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 sense 1 Grandma says her grandchildren keep her young.

young

noun plural

Kids Definition of young (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : young people It's a story for young and old.

2 : immature or recently born offspring a bear and her young

young

noun

\ ˈyəŋ

plural young

Medical Definition of young

1 : immature offspring —used especially of animals

2 : a single recently born or hatched animal

with young

: pregnant —used of a female animal

Young biographical name (1)

\ ˈyəŋ

Definition of Young

(Entry 1 of 6)

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

Young

biographical name (2)

Definition of Young (Entry 2 of 6)

Brig*ham \ ˈbri-gəm

\ 1801–1877 American Mormon leader

Young

biographical name (3)

Definition of Young (Entry 3 of 6)

Cy originally Denton True Young 1867–1955 American baseball player

Young

biographical name (4)

Definition of Young (Entry 4 of 6)

Michael W(arren) 1949– American geneticist

Young

biographical name (5)

Definition of Young (Entry 5 of 6)

Owen D. 1874–1962 American lawyer

Young

biographical name (6)

Definition of Young (Entry 6 of 6)

Whitney Moore 1921–1971 American civil rights leader

Which of the following best describes an easily irritated person?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.

TAKE THE QUIZ

young

Definition of young

Other Words from young

Synonyms & Antonyms for young

Examples of young in a Sentence

First Known Use of young

History and Etymology for young

Learn More About young

Dictionary Entries Near young

Statistics for young

Kids Definition of young

Medical Definition of young

Definition of Young

WORD OF THE DAY

debunk

Test Your Vocabulary

young

Definition of young

Other Words from young

Synonyms & Antonyms for young

Examples of young in a Sentence

Phrases Containing young

First Known Use of young

History and Etymology for young

Learn More About young

The first known use of young was before the 12th century

8 Old Words for Young People

Dictionary Entries Near young

Statistics for young

Kids Definition of young

Medical Definition of young

Definition of Young

WORD OF THE DAY

debunk

Test Your Vocabulary