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.
Critics of age limits argue policymakers should focus on making platforms safe.
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
The Broadway hit delivers all the bangers in telling the R&B star’s New York coming of age story in L.A. premiere.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
New generations are coming of age with no firsthand memory of Sept. 11 or the world that existed before it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 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
He remembered that her eighteenth birthday was today; she was of age now.
From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo
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.
