young

young — adjective

1. relates to a living being — a person, animal, or plant — that has recently come

1.adjectiveA1
Definition

relates to a living being — a person, animal, or plant — that has recently come into the world and has not yet reached full growth.

Example

Aylin's younger sister is only four and goes to preschool.

younger + noun (comparative form)

The young oak tree in the park was planted by the class last spring.

young + noun (of plants)

Common collocations
  • young and old
  • die young
  • young at heart
  • too young to do something
  • young for one's age
Synonyms
  • youthful

    focuses on appearance, energy, or qualities rather than actual age

  • juvenile

    more formal or technical; often used in legal contexts; can sound negative for behaviour

  • junior

    comparative term used for position in a hierarchy or within a family

Antonyms
  • old

    the most direct opposite for people, animals, and plants

  • elderly

    specifically of people; more polite than 'old'

Grammar Patterns

young + noun

be + young

younger + noun (comparative)

Usage Note

Use for people, animals, and plants. For objects, ideas, or events, use 'new' instead of 'young' (e.g., a new car, not a young car).

Common Mistakes

She is young than me.
She is younger than me.
Use 'younger', not 'young', for comparisons between two people or things.
This is a young tradition.
This is a new tradition.
'Young' is for living things; 'new' is for ideas, customs, or objects.

2. placed after a person's full name when two relatives, most often a father and hi

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

placed after a person's full name when two relatives, most often a father and his son, share the same name — marks which one is the later-born of the pair.

Example

Martin Luther King Jr. is called 'the younger' to tell him apart from his father.

pattern: [Name] the Younger

Pieter Bruegel the Younger produced many paintings in the style of his father.

Synonyms
  • junior

    abbreviated as 'Jr.' in modern naming conventions; more common today than 'the Younger'

Antonyms
  • the Elder

    used for the older of the two relatives sharing a name

Grammar Patterns

[Name] the Younger

Usage Note

This sense almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'the Younger' (capitalised) directly after the person's full name. The abbreviation 'Jr.' is more common in modern American English.

3. created, designed, or intended to be enjoyed by children or teenagers — not mean

3.adjectiveB1
Definition

created, designed, or intended to be enjoyed by children or teenagers — not meant for older people.

Example

The public library has a special section for young adult novels.

young adult + noun (common fixed phrase)

Amani's fashion brand launched a young clothing line for teenage shoppers.

young + noun (clothing line, audience, market — for suitability sense)

Common collocations
  • young adult
  • young people's
  • too young for
  • young audience
Synonyms
  • youthful

    can overlap in meaning but usually describes appearance or spirit, not suitability of a product or event

  • teen-oriented

    narrower — refers specifically to teenagers rather than young people in general

Antonyms
  • adult

    intended for grown-ups rather than young people

  • mature

    suitable for older audiences; the opposite of age-inappropriate-for-adults

Grammar Patterns

young + noun (suitability sense)

Usage Note

Often carries a judgement about appropriateness — saying something is 'too young' for someone implies it does not suit their age. Common in fashion, media, and entertainment contexts.

Common Mistakes

This movie is young, so children will like it.
This movie is for young people, so children will like it.
'Young' on its own does not mean 'suitable for young people'; pair it with a noun like 'audience' or 'people'.

4. appearing to have a lower age than one actually has — describing someone who loo

4.adjectiveB1
Definition

appearing to have a lower age than one actually has — describing someone who looks, feels, or acts as if they are younger than their real age.

Example

Lucas looks remarkably young for his age — people often mistake him for a student.

young for + possessive + age

Apinya's grandmother is seventy-five but has a young face and walks briskly.

young + noun (face, spirit, look, etc.)

Common collocations
  • look young
  • young for one's age
  • stay young
  • young face
  • young at heart
Synonyms
  • youthful

    very close in meaning; 'youthful' is more about qualities and spirit, while 'young' in this sense is more about physical appearance

Antonyms
  • old-looking

    appearing older than one's actual age

  • aged

    showing signs of advanced age

Grammar Patterns

look/feel/stay/appear + young

young for + age

younger + than

Usage Note

Most common in the comparative form 'younger' (look younger, feel younger, act younger). The plain form 'young' alone does not carry this meaning — it must be used with a linking verb like 'look', 'feel', or 'stay'.

Common Mistakes

My mother is young — people think she is forty.
My mother looks young for her age
people think she is forty.' — Adding 'for her age' clarifies it is about appearance vs. real age.
Idioms

be getting younger

idiom

Used to say that people seem to start doing something at an earlier age than before, or that they look younger because you are older.

The new players on the team seem to be getting younger every year.

Why do the teachers at this school keep getting younger?

not be getting any younger

idiom

Used to remind someone that time is passing and they are growing older.

We should start saving for retirement; we're not getting any younger.

Maya decided to travel now because she's not getting any younger.

(have) an old head on young shoulders

idiom

Describes a young person who behaves wisely and sensibly, like an older person.

Brian has an old head on young shoulders; he already manages his own business.

Despite being only 16, Sara has an old head on young shoulders.

young at heart

idiom

Having a youthful outlook and energy even when old.

My grandmother is 80 but still young at heart, dancing every weekend.

Diego is young at heart, always trying new hobbies like skateboarding.

you’re only young once

idiom

Said to encourage young people to enjoy life fully before adult responsibilities begin.

Go on that trip to Europe; you're only young once.

Aiden decided to join the band because you're only young once.

young — noun

Word family

  • younger
    adjectiveA1
  • youngest
    adjectiveA2
  • youth
    nounB1
  • youthful
    adjectiveB2
  • youthfully
    adverbC1
  • youthfulness
    nounC1
  • youngish
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words relate to the early part of life, but they differ in scope and tone. 'Young' is the broadest and most neutral word — it covers anyone or anything from a newborn to someone in their twenties. 'Youthful' describes the appearance, energy, or spirit of being young rather than age itself; a seventy-year-old can be described as 'youthful'. 'Juvenile' is more technical and often appears in legal contexts ('juvenile court'); it can carry a negative tone when applied to behaviour ('juvenile jokes'). 'Adolescent' refers specifically to the teenage years, the period between childhood and adulthood. 'Junior' is a comparative term for position or age within a hierarchy or family. In everyday conversation, 'young' is the safest choice: you would say 'a young doctor' (not 'a youthful doctor' unless you mean their appearance), and 'young children' (not 'juvenile children', which sounds like a police report).

young ↗youthful ↗juvenileadolescent ↗junior

Common collocations

Nouns

  • young people
  • young children
  • young adults
  • young man
  • young woman
  • young age
  • young couple

Adverbs

  • very young
  • quite young
  • fairly young
  • still young
  • extremely young
  • relatively young
  • remarkably young

Phrases

Prepositions

  • young for
  • young at

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'young' comes from Old English 'ġeong', meaning 'young, recent, fresh'. It traces further back to the Proto-Germanic '*jungas' and ultimately to the Proto-Indo-European root '*yeu-', which carried the meaning of 'vital force' or 'youth'. This same ancient root produced the Latin 'juvenis' (young person), from which English later borrowed 'junior', 'juvenile', and 'rejuvenate'.