1
: not childish or immature : adult
2
: of, for, or characteristic of adults
insisted on wearing grown-up clothes
Examples of grown-up in a Sentence
Adjective
they have yet to find a grown-up way of handling their marital problems
Noun
once you turn 12, you get to eat with the grown-ups at Thanksgiving
Recent Examples on the Web
Loren Savini, Allure, 22 May 2026
This is a place to escape the family; quite literally a grown-up’s club.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026
Now grown-up with disposable income, the original Swatch collector now arrives with spending power, resale fluency and a clear sense that owning the object is only half the reward.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Use those fresh plum tomatoes from the farmers' market for this fun, grown-up mac and cheese recipe.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 7 May 2026
Footwear with impeccable manners and a very special kind of poise is grown-up in the best sense of the word.
—Alex Sales, Glamour, 5 Apr. 2026
On an album of spectral love songs, the DJ and producer’s misty dream pop feels bigger, bolder, and decidedly grown-up.
—Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 21 Mar. 2026
But this 100% cotton design is graceful and all grown-up, featuring split corners, decorative stitching, and a tidy silhouette.
—Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026
Drinks feel just as grown-up, shifting away from sweet sips like sodas (a 2025 staple) and sugary mixed drinks toward options like sparkling water with citrus, martinis (with an olive or onion, of course), savory cocktails, and bloody Marys or Caesars.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2026
Clark Collis, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2023
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Adjective
As luck would have it, that noncommittal length is also very chic and grown-up.
—Loren Savini, Allure, 22 May 2026
This is a place to escape the family; quite literally a grown-up’s club.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026
Now grown-up with disposable income, the original Swatch collector now arrives with spending power, resale fluency and a clear sense that owning the object is only half the reward.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Use those fresh plum tomatoes from the farmers' market for this fun, grown-up mac and cheese recipe.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 7 May 2026
Footwear with impeccable manners and a very special kind of poise is grown-up in the best sense of the word.
—Alex Sales, Glamour, 5 Apr. 2026
On an album of spectral love songs, the DJ and producer’s misty dream pop feels bigger, bolder, and decidedly grown-up.
—Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 21 Mar. 2026
But this 100% cotton design is graceful and all grown-up, featuring split corners, decorative stitching, and a tidy silhouette.
—Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026
Drinks feel just as grown-up, shifting away from sweet sips like sodas (a 2025 staple) and sugary mixed drinks toward options like sparkling water with citrus, martinis (with an olive or onion, of course), savory cocktails, and bloody Marys or Caesars.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
Reportedly shot for less than $100,000, this tale of Pooh and Piglet all grown-up and running amok recently opened to box office success in Mexico and is currently playing on cinema screens around America.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Grown-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grown-up. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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