Cool MateMature vs Too old
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Mature
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
Too old
Top 2,000 (common)
| Mature | Too old | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //məˈtjʊə//🇺🇸 //məˈtʃʊr// | 🇬🇧 //tuː oʊld//🇺🇸 //tuː oʊld// |
| Meaning | Fully grown or developed. | Not young anymore; having lived a long time. |
| Example | He is a very mature individual for his age. | He felt he was too old to start a new career. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | mature audience, mature relationship, mature decisions, mature tree, mature products | too old to play, too old for school, too old for adventures |
| Antonyms | immature, undeveloped, young | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'immature' for opposites., Using 'mature' for young people or animals., Omitting the context when 'mature' implies wisdom. | Using 'too old' to positively describe someone., Confusing with 'old enough', which has a different meaning., Forgetting to use 'too' to indicate excessiveness. |
| Usage notes | Use 'mature' to describe fully developed people, animals, or things. Avoid using it to describe young subjects. | Use 'too old' when discussing age negatively; often implies being past one's prime. Avoid in professional contexts unless relevant to the discussion. |
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Frequently asked questions: Mature vs Too old
What's the difference between Mature and Too old?
Mature: Fully grown or developed. Too old: Not young anymore; having lived a long time.
Can you show an example of each?
Mature: He is a very mature individual for his age. Too old: He felt he was too old to start a new career.
Can I use Mature and Too old interchangeably?
Not always. Mature and Too old 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.