grown-up
/ˌɡrəʊn ˈʌp/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɡrəʊn ˈʌp/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgrōn-ˌəp/ (ame, mw) · /ˈɡrəʊn ʌp/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡrəʊn ʌp/ (ame, ipa)
grown-up — adjective
1. behaving like a sensible adult, especially by being responsible and showing good
behaving like a sensible adult, especially by being responsible and showing good judgment rather than acting childishly; also used to describe someone who is old enough to be considered an adult.
At just twelve years old, Yumi was already a very grown-up girl who helped her younger brother with his reading.
be + very grown-up (predicative after linking verb)
The head teacher described the Year Six class as sensible and grown-up during the school assembly.
described as + grown-up (predicative)
Kwame felt very grown-up when his parents let him walk to school by himself for the first time.
Omar's older sister trusted him to look after the house because he was so grown-up and reliable.
- mature
more formal; used in both spoken and written English for emotional or intellectual development
- responsible
narrower — focuses on reliability and duty rather than general maturity
文法句型
be grown-up
feel grown-up
act grown-up
用法筆記
Most common after linking verbs (be, feel, seem, act). Occasionally appears before a noun with an intensifier like 'very' (e.g. a very grown-up girl), though this attributive use is less frequent than the 'for adults' sense. Compare sense 2.
常見錯誤
2. designed or intended for people who are no longer children, or suitable for adul
designed or intended for people who are no longer children, or suitable for adults because of serious, complex, or mature content.
The librarian told Wei that the horror novel was a grown-up book and not suitable for young children.
grown-up book (attributive, describing content restriction)
Sophie bought a complicated board game about business and money that was clearly a grown-up game.
a grown-up game (attributive, describing complexity)
The TV channel shows grown-up programmes after nine o'clock, when most children are in bed.
Amara chose a grown-up menu for the dinner party instead of serving chicken nuggets and chips.
- children's
made for or suitable for children
- childish
too simple or immature for adults
文法句型
grown-up + noun
用法筆記
Attributive only — this sense appears before a noun (a grown-up film, grown-up topics). It is informal; in formal writing, adult or for adults is preferred.
常見錯誤
grown-up — noun
1. a person who is fully grown and no longer a child, used especially when speaking
a person who is fully grown and no longer a child, used especially when speaking to or about children, or in everyday family conversations.
Emma asked the grown-ups to explain the rules of the card game so the children could join in.
the grown-ups (contrasted with children in same sentence)
The little boy looked up at Noam and said, 'When I am a grown-up, I want to be a firefighter.'
a grown-up (used in child's speech about future)
All the grown-ups sat in the living room talking while the children played outside in the garden.
Anika was the only grown-up at the birthday party who agreed to sit at the children's table.
- adult
more formal; standard in writing and official contexts
- grown-up person
slightly redundant but used in child-directed speech
文法句型
a grown-up
the grown-ups
grow up to be a grown-up
用法筆記
Common in child-directed speech and everyday conversation. Adult is more formal and preferred in official documents, news reports, and academic writing.