premature
Americanadjective
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occurring, coming, or done too soon.
a premature announcement.
-
mature or ripe before the proper time.
noun
adjective
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occurring or existing before the normal or expected time
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impulsive or hasty
a premature judgment
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(of an infant) weighing less than 2500 g (5 1/ 2 lbs) and usually born before the end of the full period of gestation
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of premature
From the Latin word praemātūrus, dating back to 1520–30. See pre-, mature
Explanation
Premature means "not yet ready." Something that is premature arrives early, like a premature baby born before her due date, or the soggy cake you took out of the oven prematurely. Premature is a simple word to break down. Pre means "early" or "before," and mature means "done" or "ready." If a decision is criticized as premature, it means that that decision was made too hastily, and probably would have been different if more time had been taken. If someone dies very young, you might say they died prematurely.
Vocabulary lists containing premature
Maus I: My Father Bleeds History
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The Catcher in the Rye
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50 Great Words from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
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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.
Also, for those under age 59½, distributions can trigger a 10% premature distribution penalty on top of the taxes.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 19, 2026
Decades of research have linked this eating pattern to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline, and premature death.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026
But a Federal High Court judge in Bayelsa, Ayo Emmanuel, ruled that the suit was "premature and incompetent," adding that the allegations against the oil giant were statute-barred under Nigerian law.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
Loneliness has been linked to higher risks of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety and premature death.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
Emma experienced premature labor pains the day Charles wrote the memorial, but then the pains stopped.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
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.
