A1noun 1K

Adult

🇬🇧 UK /["/ˈædʌlt//əˈdʌlt/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/əˈdʌlt//ˈædʌlt/"]/

Meaning of Adult

a fully grown person who is legally responsible for their actions

In simple words: A grown-up person.

Adult in a sentence

• Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• I simply can't believe that responsible adults allowed a child to wander the streets.
• Why can't you two act like civilized adults?
• The obesity rate among adults has actually increased.
• The number of single adult households has doubled in the past 30 years.
• This book will definitely appeal to teenagers and young adults.
• What consenting adults do in private is their own business.
• The fish return to the river as adults in order to breed.

How to use Adult

Use 'adult' when talking about someone who is fully grown and not a child. It's appropriate in everyday conversation and formal contexts, but may not be used when discussing young individuals still in school.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of 'adult' as having 'a-dult' — imagine a big adult doing duties.

Related words

Collocations with Adult

• young
• single
• consenting
• education
• literacy
• population

Synonyms for Adult

• grown-up2

Opposites of Adult

• child
• teenager

Common mistakes with Adult

• Confused with 'adulthood' which refers to the state of being an adult.
• Incorrectly used as an adjective (e.g., 'adult movie' is appropriate, but not 'adult person').

Frequently asked questions about Adult

What does Adult mean?

A grown-up person.

What is the definition of Adult?

a fully grown person who is legally responsible for their actions

How do you use Adult in a sentence?

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Can you give another example of Adult?

I simply can't believe that responsible adults allowed a child to wander the streets.

What are synonyms for Adult?

Common alternatives include grown-up2.

What is the opposite of Adult?

Opposite meanings include child, teenager.

What words go with Adult?

It commonly pairs with young, single, consenting, education, literacy, population.

What are common mistakes when using Adult?

Confused with 'adulthood' which refers to the state of being an adult. Incorrectly used as an adjective (e.g., 'adult movie' is appropriate, but not 'adult person').

How do you pronounce Adult?

US: /["/əˈdʌlt//ˈædʌlt/"]/, UK: /["/ˈædʌlt//əˈdʌlt/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use Adult?

Use 'adult' when talking about someone who is fully grown and not a child. It's appropriate in everyday conversation and formal contexts, but may not be used when discussing young individuals still in school.

What CEFR level is Adult?

"Adult" is at A1 level on the CEFR scale.