of age
Idioms-
Old enough, according to the law, to be eligible for something, as in In this state he's not of age for buying liquor, but he may vote , or Next year Jane's coming of age and will get her driver's license . This usage was first recorded about 1430. The term under age signifies being too young to be eligible, as in It's against the law to serve alcohol to anyone under age .
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come of age . Mature or develop fully, as in The school's bilingual program has finally come of age .
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.
“Now when generations are coming of age, there’s no stigma, there’s nothing odd about shopping at a thrift store or shopping secondhand,” Reinhart said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Critics of age limits argue policymakers should focus on making platforms safe.
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
A generation has come of age with no personal memory of 9/11.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
For David and Liam, their unlikely partnership is a small example of what tennis can offer - regardless of age.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
At three years of age, he prattles like my father did, but I attend to every lisping word he speaks.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
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.
