as in adult
a fully grown person
once you turn 12, you get to eat with the grown-ups at Thanksgiving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in grown
to become mature
everyone has to grow up at some point in their lives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grown-up
Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2026
For families While certain areas of Zash feel distinctly grown-up, the citrus groves are hide-and-seek heaven, the pool is open enough to keep one eye on a brood with the other on a glass of Donna Fugata, and a sensible approach to timings makes the restaurant fair game too.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
These aren’t the same black ballet flats that once accompanied school uniforms; today’s Mary Janes are all grown-up.
—Nina Derwin, Glamour, 8 Jan. 2026
Powder Blue and Burgundy Powder blue sometimes gets a bad rep for being associated with a juvenile baby blue, but one way to give it a more grown-up and sophisticated appearance is by pairing it with a bold and serious color.
—Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
While science, interstellar exploration and the far-reaching depths of space can feel a little complicated and 'grown-up', a love of the universe is a, well, universal experience.
—Grace Dean, Space.com, 18 Dec. 2025
Idealsanxun Wool Plaid Mini Skirt Plaid skirts are prep-school core, but this one feels grown-up, with its structured cut and warm wool blend.
—Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
Then, just add dress shoes for a sophisticated, grown-up ensemble.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Footwear News, 22 Sep. 2025
The jasmine and whipped coconut sneak in, giving it a soft floral creaminess that makes the caramel feel grown-up instead of candy-shop.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 12 Sep. 2025
Clark Collis, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2023
Fielding Buck, Oc Register, 16 Feb. 2026
At 26 years old, Shipka has grown up onscreen.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
But you are grown up, and well aware that these are now generated mechanically.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
Karolidis had grown up in a low-slung duplex.
—Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2026
Maci Bookout's son is all grown up!
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Morgan had grown up outside of Philly and attended UPenn.
—Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
Having grown up listening to Groff on the Spring Awakening cast album, Henningsen is thrilled to be immortalized alongside him on the Just in Time cast album (out now on Atlantic — Darin’s longtime label, fittingly).
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 16 Sep. 2025
The proud mom, who shares Ricki with her late fiancé Ricky Hendrick, reflected on how much her daughter has grown up for her 19th birthday in 2024.
—Kayla Grant, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Drinks feel just as grown-up, shifting away from sweet sips like sodas (a 2025 staple) and sugary mixed drinks toward options like sparkling water with citrus, martinis (with an olive or onion, of course), savory cocktails, and bloody Marys or Caesars.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2026
For families While certain areas of Zash feel distinctly grown-up, the citrus groves are hide-and-seek heaven, the pool is open enough to keep one eye on a brood with the other on a glass of Donna Fugata, and a sensible approach to timings makes the restaurant fair game too.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
These aren’t the same black ballet flats that once accompanied school uniforms; today’s Mary Janes are all grown-up.
—Nina Derwin, Glamour, 8 Jan. 2026
Powder Blue and Burgundy Powder blue sometimes gets a bad rep for being associated with a juvenile baby blue, but one way to give it a more grown-up and sophisticated appearance is by pairing it with a bold and serious color.
—Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
While science, interstellar exploration and the far-reaching depths of space can feel a little complicated and 'grown-up', a love of the universe is a, well, universal experience.
—Grace Dean, Space.com, 18 Dec. 2025
Idealsanxun Wool Plaid Mini Skirt Plaid skirts are prep-school core, but this one feels grown-up, with its structured cut and warm wool blend.
—Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
Then, just add dress shoes for a sophisticated, grown-up ensemble.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Footwear News, 22 Sep. 2025
The jasmine and whipped coconut sneak in, giving it a soft floral creaminess that makes the caramel feel grown-up instead of candy-shop.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 12 Sep. 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
Verb
By the early 1980s the chain’s core audience was grown up and the chain sought to rebrand itself for adults.
—Fielding Buck, Oc Register, 16 Feb. 2026
At 26 years old, Shipka has grown up onscreen.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
But you are grown up, and well aware that these are now generated mechanically.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
Karolidis had grown up in a low-slung duplex.
—Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2026
Maci Bookout's son is all grown up!
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Morgan had grown up outside of Philly and attended UPenn.
—Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
Having grown up listening to Groff on the Spring Awakening cast album, Henningsen is thrilled to be immortalized alongside him on the Just in Time cast album (out now on Atlantic — Darin’s longtime label, fittingly).
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 16 Sep. 2025
The proud mom, who shares Ricki with her late fiancé Ricky Hendrick, reflected on how much her daughter has grown up for her 19th birthday in 2024.
—Kayla Grant, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grown-up
Adjective
-
Once fully mature, this blueberry bush can yield 3 to 5 pounds of fruit.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The 2025 world champion returns to her second Olympic Games with a fresh, mature perspective from a two-year hiatus and has already helped the United States to a gold medal in the team event.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
My bedside table was stacked with young-adult novels from popular series such as Secret Seven, Famous Five and Sweet Valley High.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
At the end of the 2025 session, Walz and Democrats agreed after weeks of negotiations with Republican leadership to repeal MinnesotaCare for undocumented immigrant adults in order to reach a budget deal and avoid a government shutdown.—
Mary Murphy,
Twin Cities,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In recent years, US productivity has grown at a robust pace, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
-
By December, that estimate had grown to $9 billion lost since 2018.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grown-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grown-up. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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