grown-up
Americanadjective
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having reached the age of maturity.
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characteristic of or suitable for adults.
grown-up behavior; grown-up fiction.
adjective
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having reached maturity; adult
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suitable for or characteristic of an adult
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of grown-up
First recorded in 1625–35; adj. use of verb phrase grow up
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Their grown-up children often aren't interested in taking on the family venture, he adds.
From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026
Neither chewy, gooey nor crumbly, it was a grown-up way for me to get my chocolate fix—dessert and mouth freshener in one.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
“That is the grown-up part of the AI story: Less sparkle, more spreadsheet.”
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
“The idea of being a grown-up, of being a man, was something I was searching for,” Gyllenhaal said.
From Salon • May 27, 2026
“You’d better read it aloud. That will amuse us and keep you out of mischief,” said Amy in her most grown-up tone.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
