grown-up

[ grohn-uhp ]

adjective

1. having reached the age of maturity.
2. characteristic of or suitable for adults:

   grown-up behavior; grown-up fiction.

grown-up

adjective

1. having reached maturity; adult
2. suitable for or characteristic of an adult

noun

1. an adult

Other Words From

• grown-upness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of grown-up¹

First recorded in 1625–35; adj. use of verb phrase grow up