youthful
Americanadjective
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characterized by youth; young.
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of, relating to, or befitting youth.
youthful enthusiasm.
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having the appearance, freshness, vigor, etc., of youth.
She is 60 but her optimism has kept her youthful.
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in an early period of existence; early in time.
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Physical Geography. (of topographical features) having undergone erosion to a slight extent only.
adjective
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of, relating to, possessing, or characteristic of youth
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fresh, vigorous, or active
he's surprisingly youthful for his age
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in an early stage of development
a youthful culture
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Also: young. (of a river, valley, or land surface) in the early stage of the cycle of erosion, characterized by steep slopes, lack of flood plains, and V-shaped valleys Compare mature old
Related Words
See young.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of youthful
Explanation
Use the adjective youthful to describe someone who is young or who acts as though they are — like your surprisingly youthful grandma, who just signed up for a hiphop dance class and rides her skateboard around the neighborhood. This word is handy for talking about the general characteristics of young people, like youthful energy, youthful stubbornness, or youthful enthusiasm. You might also say someone looks youthful if they appear younger than they are. Someone who acts youthful might enjoy swinging on the swings at the playground, even if they're no longer a kid. At the heart of youthful is youth, "the period between childhood and adulthood."
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.
“New, Youthful, Sharp . . . energy !!!!” Knowles wrote alongside a photo of herself next to Harris.
From Salon • Jul. 23, 2024
Youthful uprisings first flared in 2011, during the Arab Spring, when an uprising in Tunisia inspired others in Egypt and Libya.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 29, 2023
Youthful precocity is a given in Anderson’s movies, as are the stirrings of young love.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2023
Youthful and disarmingly handsome, he ingratiated himself with the leading American composers of mid-20th century, particularly the gay ones: Bernstein, Copland, Barber, Virgil Thomson.
From New York Times • Nov. 20, 2022
Young Yokel, a Youthful Yorkshire Yeoman Yawned at York, For want of a few interesting and entertaining books from Cole's Book Arcade.
From Cole's Funny Picture Book No. 1 by Cole, E. W. (Edward William)
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.
