young

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Having lived or existed for only a short time.

   Grammar: Can go before a noun or after be: a young girl; she is young.

   Patterns

   • young for something
   • too young to do something

   The young puppy chased its tail.

   She was too young to vote.

   The company is young but growing fast.

2. 2adjectivecomparable

   Showing the energy or look of youth.

   Grammar: Often after a verb: look young.

   Patterns

   • young at heart

   Grandpa still feels young at heart.

   She looks young for her age.

   He has a young outlook on life.

3. 3nounplural

   The offspring of an animal.

   Grammar: Takes a plural verb: the young are fed by both parents.

   Patterns

   • the young of something

   The mother bird fed her young.

   Whales protect their young fiercely.

   The young of this species are born blind.

Word forms

Common combinations

young people

Young people gathered in the square.

young at heart

My aunt is young at heart.

young adult

She writes novels for young adults.

die young

Many poets died young.

young family

A young family moved next door.

Synonyms and how they differ

youthful

Youthful describes qualities or looks of youth even in older people.

juvenile

Juvenile is formal or technical, or critical when it means childish.

immature

Immature stresses not fully grown or developed, often critically.

new

New is for things that have just started, not for living things.

Opposites

Word family

youth noun

the time of being young, or a young person

youngster noun

a young person or child

younger adjective

less old than another

youthful adjective

having the qualities of youth

rejuvenate verb

to make young again

Commonly confused: young or youthful?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “young”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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