adult
a person who is fully grown or developed or of age.
a full-grown animal or plant.
a person who has attained the age of maturity as specified by law.
having attained full size and strength; grown up; mature: an adult person, animal, or plant.
of, relating to, or befitting adults.
intended for adults; not suitable for children: adult entertainment.
Informal. (of a young person) to do things and assume responsibilities that are associated with being an adult; act like an adult (usually used facetiously about minor accomplishments): I cook dinner for myself most nights—guess that means I'm adulting.
Origin of adult
1Other words from adult
- a·dult·hood, noun
- a·dult·like, adjective
- a·dult·ly, adverb
- a·dult·ness, noun
- non·a·dult, adjective, noun
- qua·si-a·dult, adjective
- sub·a·dult, adjective, noun
- sub·a·dult·ness, noun
- un·a·dult, adjective
Words Nearby adult
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use adult in a sentence
Lundberg also touted recent innovations like the chocolate-covered Chocolate Thin Snackers and Organic Rice Cake Minis, a bite-sized version of the original product geared toward adults and kids crunching on the go.
The Rise and Fall of the Rice Cake, America’s One-Time Favorite Health Snack | Brenna Houck | September 17, 2020 | EaterThose impressions were made by herds of juvenile and adult animals, the scientists say.
Seven footprints may be the oldest evidence of humans on the Arabian Peninsula | Bruce Bower | September 17, 2020 | Science NewsA rear bench seat fits two adults or children, with three-point seat belts and rated LATCH child-seat attachments.
Can’t Afford a Sprinter? Get a Tiny Van Instead. | Emily Pennington | September 16, 2020 | Outside OnlineThat means a family could link watches for a child or older adult to a parent’s iPhone.
Two new Apple Watches announced at Apple’s ‘Time Flies’ event | Aaron Pressman | September 15, 2020 | FortuneAmong adults age 18 to 24, 62% oppose the executive order to force a sale of TikTok.
Jones is a veteran of another beloved-yet-controversial animated series on adult Swim, The Boondocks.
‘Black Dynamite’ Presents Police Brutality: The Musical | Stereo Williams | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAs of 2013, Jews make up 1.8 to 2.2 percent of the adult U.S. population.
Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America? | Emily Shire | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAnother side of Spider-Man that might be interesting to explore in a reboot is seeing him as an adult.
Exclusive: Sony Hack Reveals Studio's Detailed Plans For Another ‘Spider-Man’ Reboot | William Boot | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI was under the impression that “girls” is a demeaning term for adult women.
Up to a Point: They Made Me Write About Lena Dunham | P. J. O’Rourke | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIt might feel fresh to see Peter Parker juggling with adult issues.
Exclusive: Sony Hack Reveals Studio's Detailed Plans For Another ‘Spider-Man’ Reboot | William Boot | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFew persons can attain to adult life without being profoundly impressed by the appalling inequalities of our human lot.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockBut between the phase of schooling and the phase of adult learning there is an intermediate stage.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation | H. G. (Herbert George) WellsAnd this college course I have sketched should, in the modern state, pass insensibly into adult mental activities.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation | H. G. (Herbert George) WellsIt stands very much in the way of that universal adult education which is our present concern.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation | H. G. (Herbert George) WellsNot more than one adult worker in ten—so at least it might with confidence be estimated—is employed on necessary things.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen Leacock
British Dictionary definitions for adult
/ (ˈædʌlt, əˈdʌlt) /
having reached maturity; fully developed
of or intended for mature people: adult education
regarded as suitable only for adults, because of being pornographic: adult films and magazines
a person who has attained maturity; a grownup
a mature fully grown animal or plant
law a person who has attained the age of legal majority (18 years for most purposes): Compare infant
Origin of adult
1Derived forms of adult
- adulthood, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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