youth

¹

[ yooth ]

noun

, plural youths [yooths, yoo, th, z], (collectively) youth.

1. the condition of being young.

   Antonyms: maturity

2. the appearance, freshness, vigor, spirit, etc., characteristic of one who is young.
3. the time of being young; early life:

   His youth was spent on the farm.

   Synonyms: immaturity, minority

   Antonyms: maturity

4. the period of life from puberty to the attainment of full growth; adolescence.
5. the first or early period of anything:

   The business, even in its youth, showed great potential.

6. young persons collectively.
7. a young person, especially a young man or male adolescent.

   Synonyms: boy, lad, stripling, adolescent, teenager, youngster

Youth

²

[ yooth ]

noun

1. Isle of Youth [ahyl, , uh, v , yooth]. an island in the Caribbean, a special municipality in southern Cuba. 1,182 sq. mi. (3,060 sq. km).

youth

¹

/ juːθ /

noun

1. the quality or condition of being young, immature, or inexperienced

   his youth told against him in the contest

2. the period between childhood and maturity, esp adolescence and early adulthood
3. the freshness, vigour, or vitality characteristic of young people

   youth shone out from her face

4. any period of early development

   the project was in its youth

5. a young person, esp a young man or boy
6. young people collectively

   youth everywhere is rising in revolt

Youth

²

/ juːθ /

noun

1. Isle of Youth
   an island in the NW Caribbean, south of Cuba: administratively part of Cuba from 1925. Chief town: Nueva Gerona. Pop: 80 600 (2002 est). Area: 3061 sq km (1182 sq miles) Former nameIsle of Pines Spanish nameIsla de la Juventudˈizla ðe la xuβenˈtuð

Derived Forms

• ˈyouthless, adjective

Other Words From

• youthless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of youth¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English youthe, Old English geoguth; cognate with Dutch jeugd, German Jugend

Word History and Origins

Origin of youth¹

Old English geogoth; related to Old Frisian jogethe, Old High German iugund, Gothic junda, Latin juventus

Example Sentences

While excoriating the IRS, Huckabee brings his readers along on a flashback to his youth.

From The Daily Beast

The last band I was in was kind of a Sonic Youth rip-off band, and I thought that that was my calling.

From The Daily Beast

A new WPA would have helped create jobs and provided some training to underemployed or unemployed youth.

From The Daily Beast

After raising a cool $2m last night, Will met the President today in DC while Kate visited a Harlem youth project.

From The Daily Beast

According to a 2012 UNAIDS report, youth between the ages of 16 to 25 account for 40 percent of all new adult HIV infections.

From The Daily Beast

She herself had worn them in her youth, and they were the proper bonnets for "growing girls."

From Project Gutenberg

Joe looked at her with a smile, his face still solemn and serious for all its youth and the fires of new-lit hope behind his eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

Y was a Youth, that did not love school; Z was a Zany, a poor harmless fool.

From Project Gutenberg

Very trim and strong, and confident he looked, with the glow of youth in his cheeks, and the spark of happiness in his gray eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

He distinguished himself in early youth by the variety of studies which he accomplished.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• minority
• teens