- 1having lived or existed for only a short time; not fully developed young babies a young country Caterpillars eat the young leaves of this plant. a young wine The night is still young (= it has only just started). opposite old
- 2not yet old; not as old as others young people talented young football players I am the youngest of four sisters. In his younger days he played baseball for the Mets. I met the young Bill Clinton at Georgetown. Her grandchildren keep her young. My son is thirteen, but he's young for his age (= not as developed as other boys of the same age). They married young (= at an early age). My mother died young. opposite old
- 3suitable or appropriate for young people synonym youthful young fashion The clothes she wears are much too young for her.
- 4consisting of young people or young children; with a low average age They have a young family. a young audience
- 5young man/lady used to show that you are angry or annoyed with a particular young person I think you owe me an apology, young lady!
- 6the younger used before or after a person's name to distinguish them from an older relative the younger Kennedy (formal) William Pitt the Younger compare elder, junior Idioms
used to say that people seem to be doing something at a younger age than they used to, or that they seem younger because you are now older The band's fans are getting younger. Why do police officers seem to be getting younger?
used when you are commenting that time is passing and that you, or someone else, is growing older
thinking and behaving like a young person even when you are old My father is 76 but he's still young at heart.
young people should enjoy themselves as much as possible, because they will have to work and worry later in their lives
Check pronunciation: young