Cool MateAdult vs Grown vs Mature
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Adult
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Grown
Top 2,000 (common)
Mature
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
Most common: Adult
| Adult | Grown | Mature | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈædʌlt//əˈdʌlt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈdʌlt//ˈædʌlt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɡrəʊn//🇺🇸 //ɡroʊn// | 🇬🇧 //məˈtjʊə//🇺🇸 //məˈtʃʊr// |
| Meaning | A grown-up person. | Become an adult or bigger. | Fully grown or developed. |
| Example | Children must be accompanied by an adult. | She has grown into a talented musician. | He is a very mature individual for his age. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | adjective | |
| Collocations | young, single, consenting, education, literacy, population | grown up, grown man, grown children, grown business, grown tree | mature audience, mature relationship, mature decisions, mature tree, mature products |
| Antonyms | child, teenager | shrunk, diminished, declined | immature, undeveloped, young |
| Common mistakes | 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'). | Confused with 'growed' as the past tense., Using 'grown' where 'growing' is more appropriate when describing ongoing development., Not recognizing 'grown' can indicate maturity in both people and plants. | Confused with 'immature' for opposites., Using 'mature' for young people or animals., Omitting the context when 'mature' implies wisdom. |
| Usage notes | 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. | Often used to describe someone who is no longer a child. Can also refer to plants or animals that have reached maturity. | Use 'mature' to describe fully developed people, animals, or things. Avoid using it to describe young subjects. |
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Frequently asked questions: Adult vs Grown vs Mature
What's the difference between Adult, Grown, and Mature?
Adult: A grown-up person. Grown: Become an adult or bigger. Mature: Fully grown or developed.
Which is more common: Adult, Grown, and Mature?
Adult is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Adult, Grown, and Mature?
Mature is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Adult: Children must be accompanied by an adult. Grown: She has grown into a talented musician. Mature: He is a very mature individual for his age.
Can I use Adult, Grown, and Mature interchangeably?
Not always. Adult, Grown, and Mature are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.