mature
adjective, ma·tur·er, ma·tur·est.
verb (used with object), ma·tured, ma·tur·ing.
verb (used without object), ma·tured, ma·tur·ing.
Origin of mature
SYNONYMS FOR mature
OTHER WORDS FROM mature
Words nearby mature
VOCAB BUILDER
What does mature mean?
If a person is mature, they act grown-up. If an animal is mature, it has reached adulthood. If a fruit is mature, it’s ripe. If a game or movie is intended for a mature audience, it means it’s for adults because it’s inappropriate for kids.
Mature has many meanings in addition to the common ones above. It is most commonly used as an adjective, but it can also be a verb meaning to become mature or to make mature.
Example: Some of my students are very mature and responsible, but the rest of them act like preschoolers.
Where does mature come from?
Mature comes from the Latin word mātūrus, meaning “‘ripe,” “timely,” or “early.” The first records of mature in English come from the 1400s.
Mature can mean a lot of different things. As a verb, mature can mean “to ripen,” as in This fruit will become softer as it matures. It is used in a similar way to refer to aging cheese, as in This cheese was matured for at least seven years. When applied to people, mature can mean “to grow and develop physically” or to “become more responsible and grown-up” (ideally both happen at the same time). Mature can also be used to mean “to make mature,” as in I hope college matures him. A child who has matured in such a way can then be called mature in terms of development and behavior.
As an adjective, mature has many more meanings, but most of them describe something that has reached an advanced stage of development or a final limit (as in mature industry and mature bond).
When applied to certain types of media, such as movies and video games, mature means “suitable only for adults.” This means it contains mature content, especially profanity or graphic depictions of sexual activity or violence. It is often used in this way for rating systems (as in This dictionary page is rated M for Mature).
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What are some other forms of mature?
- immature (adjective)
- maturity (noun)
- maturely (adverb)
- maturation (noun)
- maturement (noun)
- matureness (noun)
- maturer (noun)
What are some synonyms for mature?
- adult (as an adjective)
- responsible
- seasoned
What are some words that share a root or word element with mature?
What are some words that often get used in discussing mature?
How is mature used in real life?
Mature can be used in many different ways. Most of them refer in some way to people or things that have reached a certain stage of development.
I’m too mature for my age loool no wonder I struggle to get close to my peers
— حمزة🧩 (@hamza_039) February 25, 2020
My sincere apologies @DwyaneWade I missed congratulating you on your jersey retirement yesterday. I am so very proud of you and your career, it has been my pleasure watching you grow and mature. This is truly a well deserved honor! @NBA @MiamiHEAT #L3GACY pic.twitter.com/fGTBZqYzAZ
— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) February 24, 2020
HBO: The following is intended only for mature audiences, viewer discretion advised.
Me: lol nice 😏
— Beth May (@HeyBethMay) February 17, 2020
Try using mature!
Which of the following sentences uses mature incorrectly?
A. A mature strawberry should be bright red with green leaves.
B. Your mature behavior in class today was unacceptable—please try to act more grown-up.
C. This cheese is matured in caves to enhance its flavor.
D. The video game is for a mature audience due to its extreme violence.