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• coming of age
  coming of age

  noun

  the point, state, or age at which a person officially becomes an adult.
• coming-of-age
  coming-of-age

  adjective

  of, relating to, or designating the point or process of reaching adulthood.

coming of age

¹ American  

noun

1. the point, state, or age at which a person officially becomes an adult.

2. the process of becoming an adult.

3. the state or process of reaching maturity, acceptance, or readiness.

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coming-of-age ² American  

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating the point or process of reaching adulthood.

2. of, relating to, or designating the point or process of reaching maturity, acceptance, or readiness.

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Other Word Forms

• coming-of-age
  adjective

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coming of age coming-of-age

The coming of age story, Mountain, directed by Celyn Jones, was filmed in his home town of Holyhead, on Anglesey.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

She compared her own freewheeling youth to that of her Gen Z children, whose “third spaces” are largely online and who are coming of age under mass social-media surveillance—the ultimate buzzkill.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

Because you came up in Hollywood or were coming of age in Hollywood, does this stage of life actually feel like more of a moment of discovery for you about who you are?

From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026

“Agridulce” is an ethnomusicological documentary — it captures the music of a specific place and people and shows how the tradition is kept alive — that also doubles as a coming of age story.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2026

They are not yet adults, but in that middle stage, late adolescence, coming of age.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

In addition to “Hexed,” a magical coming-of-age adventure about a young girl named Billie who discovers she’s a witch that will hit theaters Nov. 25, Disney Animation announced “Clay” for 2028.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026

While Kiki’s coming-of-age year as a witch requires her to live on her own, she’s never alone and can’t succeed without other people.

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026

The success of the coming-of-age series “Heartstopper” was a surprise even to Kit Connor, and Season 3 is part of a new, more mature phase for the actor.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

A coming-of-age trilogy that traverses icy seas and snowy mountains concludes among the everyday struggles of an Icelandic village.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026

It was because of an all-of-the-above class lesson that I was spared a coming-of-age experience in the ex-Confederacy that I’ve never had great cause to regret.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times