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
Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 21 Mar. 2026
Graceful, elongated almond nail shapes can help make pretty blooms feel more grown-up, and pastels look great on any length.
—Elle Turner, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2026
But this 100% cotton design is graceful and all grown-up, featuring split corners, decorative stitching, and a tidy silhouette.
—Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026
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
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
Clark Collis, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2023
Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
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
Adjective
On an album of spectral love songs, the DJ and producer’s misty dream pop feels bigger, bolder, and decidedly grown-up.
—Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 21 Mar. 2026
Graceful, elongated almond nail shapes can help make pretty blooms feel more grown-up, and pastels look great on any length.
—Elle Turner, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2026
But this 100% cotton design is graceful and all grown-up, featuring split corners, decorative stitching, and a tidy silhouette.
—Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026
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
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
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
In some communities, a generation has grown up without any memory of pristine water or air — and given their lack of education, little reason to mourn it.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grown-up
Adjective
-
This idea is quite mature and has been developed for about 20 years.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Instead of two mature adults, though, the emphasis here is on teenagers, and all the angst of growing up and finding yourself.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In fact, 1 in 4 adults with dental insurance reported costs as a barrier to care, according to a 2023 survey by KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.—
Blake Farmer,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Two other adults were also burned during the incident, though the extent of their injuries was not immediately released.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the past forty years, men’s wages have decreased as a percentage of over-all family income, while broader wealth inequalities and job insecurity have grown.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The Kansas City metro area has grown by more than 75,000 people since 2020, new census data shows, as population growth slowed nationwide.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grown-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grown-up. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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