precocious

[ pri-koh-shuhs ]

/ prɪˈkoʊ ʃəs /

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See synonyms for precocious on Thesaurus.com

adjective

unusually advanced or mature in development, especially mental development: a precocious child.

prematurely developed, as the mind, faculties, etc.

of or relating to premature development.

Botany.

flowering, fruiting, or ripening early, as plants or fruit.
bearing blossoms before leaves, as plants.
appearing before leaves, as flowers.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of precocious

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

OTHER WORDS FROM precocious

pre·co·cious·ly, adverbpre·co·cious·ness, nounun·pre·co·cious, adjectiveun·pre·co·cious·ly, adverb

un·pre·co·cious·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use precocious in a sentence

And becoming precociously sophisticated—only too often precociously vicious—her nature and future are wrecked at the outset.
Feminism and Sex-Extinction|Arabella Kenealy
It is a hardy tree, and has been known to bear fruit precociously even in the second year after planting.
Fruits of the Hawaiian Islands|Gerrit Parmile Wilder
The man who is fond precociously of stirring may be a spoon, but the man who lies in bed half the day is something worse.
Interludes|Horace Smith
Thackeray was quite aware of his early weaknesses, and in the maturity of life knew well that he had not been precociously wise.
Thackeray|Anthony Trollope

Looks often belie the true condition underneath, returned Polly, precociously.
Polly's Southern Cruise|Lillian Elizabeth Roy

British Dictionary definitions for precocious

precocious

/ (prɪˈkəʊʃəs) /

adjective

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

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

Derived forms of precocious

precociously, adverbprecociousness or precocity (prɪˈkɒsɪtɪ), noun

Word Origin for precocious

C17: from Latin praecox early maturing, from prae early + coquere to ripen

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012