grown-up

American  

[grohn-uhp] / ˈgroʊnˈʌp /

adjective

1. having reached the age of maturity.

2. characteristic of or suitable for adults.

   grown-up behavior; grown-up fiction.

---

grown-up British  

adjective

1. having reached maturity; adult

2. suitable for or characteristic of an adult

---

noun

1. an adult

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• grown-upness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of grown-up

First recorded in 1625–35; adj. use of verb phrase grow up

Example Sentences

“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

I’d call my dad like a grown-up: “Pick me up at 7. We will have dinner and then you will return me to my home because I have school in the morning.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026

"Sometimes I feel he is more grown-up and I'm more childish," she says, "though I can be quite bossy."

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

“Maybe we can find a grown-up bloodhound somewhere,” he said.

From "Mystery Map (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #3)" by Franklin W. Dixon