Cool MateGrown vs Mature
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Grown
Top 2,000 (common)
Mature
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
| Grown | Mature | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɡrəʊn//🇺🇸 //ɡroʊn// | 🇬🇧 //məˈtjʊə//🇺🇸 //məˈtʃʊr// |
| Meaning | Become an adult or bigger. | Fully grown or developed. |
| Example | She has grown into a talented musician. | He is a very mature individual for his age. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | grown up, grown man, grown children, grown business, grown tree | mature audience, mature relationship, mature decisions, mature tree, mature products |
| Antonyms | shrunk, diminished, declined | immature, undeveloped, young |
| Common mistakes | 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 | 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: Grown vs Mature
What's the difference between Grown and Mature?
Grown: Become an adult or bigger. Mature: Fully grown or developed.
Can you show an example of each?
Grown: She has grown into a talented musician. Mature: He is a very mature individual for his age.
Can I use Grown and Mature interchangeably?
Not always. 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.