grown·up

also grown-up (grōn′ŭp′)

An adult.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

grown′-up′

adj.

1. having reached the age of maturity.

2. characteristic of or suitable for adults.

[1625–35]

grown′-up′ness, n.

grown•up

(ˈgroʊnˌʌp)

n.

a fully grown person; adult.

[1805–15]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	grownup - a fully developed person from maturity onward adult individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do" adult body - the body of an adult human being brachycephalic - an adult with a short broad head caregiver - a person who is responsible for attending to the needs of a child or dependent adult catch, match - a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect centrist, middle of the roader, moderate, moderationist - a person who takes a position in the political center eccentric, type, character, case - a person of a specified kind (usually with many eccentricities); "a real character"; "a strange character"; "a friendly eccentric"; "the capable type"; "a mental case" conservative, conservativist - a person who is reluctant to accept changes and new ideas dolichocephalic - an adult with a long narrow head elder, senior - a person who is older than you are ex-spouse - a person who was formerly a spouse host - a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there important person, influential person, personage - a person whose actions and opinions strongly influence the course of events Jack of all trades - a person able to do a variety of different jobs acceptably well liberal, liberalist, progressive - a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties liberal - a person who favors an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets adult male, man - an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman); "there were two women and six men on the bus" militarist, warmonger - a person who advocates war or warlike policies golden ager, old person, oldster, senior citizen - an elderly person disarmer, pacificist, pacifist - someone opposed to violence as a means of settling disputes patrician - a person of refined upbringing and manners pledgee - someone to whom a pledge is made or someone with whom something is deposited as a pledge pledger - someone who makes or gives a pledge professional, professional person - a person engaged in one of the learned professions sobersides - a serious and sedate individual man of the world, sophisticate - a worldly-wise person homebody, stay-at-home - a person who seldom goes anywhere; one not given to wandering or travel unemotional person, stoic - someone who is seemingly indifferent to emotions thoroughbred - a well-bred person adult female, woman - an adult female person (as opposed to a man); "the woman kept house while the man hunted"
Adj.	1.	grownup - (of animals) fully developed; "an adult animal"; "a grown woman" adult, full-grown, fully grown, grown, big animal, animate being, beast, creature, fauna, brute - a living organism characterized by voluntary movement mature - having reached full natural growth or development; "a mature cell"

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References in classic literature

Tanya behaved like a grownup person, and looked after the little ones.

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One hears sometimes of a child being `the picture of health;' now, Emma always gives me the idea of being the complete picture of grownup health.

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He felt more grownup, and instinctively realised that among the larger numbers his deformity would be less noticeable.

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Midway down the long table on one side sat the grownup young people: Vera beside Berg, and Pierre beside Boris; and on the other side, the children, tutors, and governesses.

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Quite the prettiest sight in the Gardens is when the babies stray from the tree where the nurse is sitting and are seen feeding the birds, not a grownup near them.

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There was no one whom she liked as much, no one whom she trusted as completely, and the culminating "lark" of the whole delightful adventure of engagement and marriage was to be off with him alone on a journey, like a grownup person, like a "married woman," in fact.

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"I suppose we'll get used to being grownup in time," said Anne cheerfully.

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Works of fiction superseded by interesting company and conversation, and made obsolete by the human mind outgrowing the childishness that delights in the tales told by grownup children such as novelists and their like!

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Such was the author of "The Little Duke" and "The Dove in the Eagle's Nest," such the author of "A Flatiron for a Farthing," and "The Story of a Short Life." Such, above all, the author of "Alice in Wonderland." Grownups imagine that they can do the trick by adopting baby language and talking down to their very critical audience.

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I USE THE TERM GROWNUP on purpose because, as has been noted previously in this column, "adult" is corrupted.

Grow up, already

Shloer Fruit Punch, pounds 2.29 for 750ml The grownup grape juice gets a summer makeover with added orange and strawberry.

SHELF LIFE; ALCO SWAPS Sophisticated new soft drinks

The Grownup Noise is a band that keeps you jumping.

Grownup Noise brings its sound to The Q