Meaning & use
precocious
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Having developed abilities or understanding at an earlier age than usual.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after linking verbs like 'is' or 'seems': a precocious child; the child seems precocious.
Patterns
- a precocious child
- precocious talent
- be precocious
She was a precocious reader and finished novels before she started school.
His precocious talent for chess surprised the older players.
The film tells the story of a precocious girl who teaches herself calculus.
adjectivecomparabledisapproving
Behaving in a way that seems too adult for one's age, often annoyingly so.
Grammar: Often carries a mildly disapproving tone; compare with the neutral 'advanced for her age'.
Patterns
- a precocious remark
- precocious behavior
His precocious remarks about politics made the adults uncomfortable.
She had a precocious manner that some teachers found charming and others found irritating.
Word forms
| comparative | more precocious |
|---|---|
| superlative | most precocious |
Common combinations
- precocious child
- The precocious child corrected the tour guide's history.
- precocious talent
- Her precocious talent for music was obvious by age five.
- precocious reading
- His precocious reading skills amazed his kindergarten teacher.
- precocious development
- The doctor noted the child's precocious development in language.
Synonyms and how they differ
- advanced
- Neutral and often used in education; it describes skill level without suggesting odd or annoying behavior.
- gifted
- Focuses on natural ability, especially in school subjects, and is usually positive.
- mature
- Describes sensible, adult-like behavior rather than unusual early skill; it is often approving.
Opposites
Word family
- precociously adverb
- In a precocious manner: She read precociously at age four.
- precocity noun
- The quality of being precocious: His precocity made him a celebrity.
Commonly confused: precocious or preconscious?
precocious vs preconscious
Sounds similar but means 'not yet conscious' or relates to a Freudian mental level; it is not about early maturity.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'precocious' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Precocious' describes early development, so it fits a toddler with advanced reading skills. The other options use it with people or things that cannot be precocious.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “precocious”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.