precocious

American  

[pri-koh-shuhs] / prɪˈkoʊ ʃəs /

adjective

1. unusually advanced or mature in development, especially mental development.

   a precocious child.

2. prematurely developed, as the mind, faculties, etc.

3. of or relating to premature development.

4. Botany.

   1. flowering, fruiting, or ripening early, as plants or fruit.

   2. bearing blossoms before leaves, as plants.

   3. appearing before leaves, as flowers.

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precocious British  

/ prɪˈkɒsɪtɪ, prɪˈkəʊʃəs /

adjective

1. ahead in development, such as the mental development of a child

2. botany (of plants, fruit, etc) flowering or ripening early

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precocious Scientific  

/ prĭ-kō′shəs /

1. Relating to or having flowers that blossom before the leaves emerge. Some species of magnolias are precocious.

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Other Word Forms

• precociously adverb
• precociousness noun
• unprecocious adjective
• unprecociously adverb
• unprecociousness noun

Etymology

Origin of precocious

1640–50; Latin praecoci-, stem of praecox ( precocity ) + -ous

Example Sentences

A precocious talent who burst on the scene in 2006, Kim was the spark-plug of the 2008 US Ryder Cup team that beat Europe at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky.

From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026

Douglas Century’s “Crash of the Heavens” brings to life the headstrong, charismatic heroine who was both a fearless warrior and a precocious writer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 17, 2025

He did not think of himself as a precocious intellect but he took up a scholarship at the University of Chicago at the tender age of 15.

From BBC • Nov. 7, 2025

“He’s such a precocious young man,” Peterson, 86, said.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2025

Why was the disk’s precocious technology not widely adopted in Crete or elsewhere in the ancient Mediterranean?

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Related Words

• bright
• cocky
• intelligent
• mature