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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grown-up
David Lyman, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
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
Clark Collis, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2023
Adjective
But most of it is decidedly and delightfully grown-up.
—David Lyman, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grown-up
Adjective
-
That’s a mature skill most people her age aren’t thinking about.—
Beth Wood,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 July 2025
-
Kat James Kat James has had a few lives: as a licensed aesthetician, celebrity make-up artist, and beauty educator; she’s also worked with cosmetics companies, dermatologists, and plastic surgeons on mature skincare and patient relations.—
Carmen Rios,
Flow Space,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
Elsewhere in the world lived terror birds taller than an adult human, wombats the size of cars, woolly rhinos, a variety of elephants with unusual tusks and other creatures.—
Riley Black,
Smithsonian Magazine,
11 July 2025
-
The game focuses on themes of searching for identity, both in the superhero sense and in the teenager becoming an adult variety.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
The Jordan Brand has grown beyond just a basketball shoe.—
Jason Jones,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
-
But most impressive of all for Chenoweth is seeing how the brand has grown.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grown-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grown-up. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share