Young: meaning, definitions and examples

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young

[jʌŋ ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

age

Having lived or existed for only a short time. Being in an early period of life, development, or growth.

Synonyms

fresh, juvenile, youthful.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
young	General situations to describe someone or something in the early stages of growth or development. She is a young artist with a lot of potential. The young trees need special care.
youthful	Describing someone or something as having qualities associated with youth, such as energy, vibrancy, or enthusiasm, often used in a positive sense. She has a youthful spirit despite her age. His youthful energy is contagious.
juvenile	Primarily used in formal or legal contexts to describe young people, often carrying a negative connotation implying immaturity or delinquency. The court deals with juvenile offenders. His behavior was quite juvenile for his age.
fresh	Situations relating to being new or recently made/obtained, also used for food and ideas. The bakery sells fresh bread every morning. He had a fresh perspective on the project.

Examples of usage

I am still young, so I have a lot to learn.
The company was founded by a group of young entrepreneurs.
She is a young actress with a promising future.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

offspring

Offspring, especially young animals.

Synonyms

cubs, offspring, progeny.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
young	Used to describe children, teenagers, or individuals in the early stages of life. Can be used broadly for both humans and animals. The young are our future. The young lion was learning to hunt.
offspring	A more formal or scientific term for children or the young of a person, animal, or plant. Often used in biological or academic texts. The scientist studied the offspring of the genetically modified plants. Animals must care for their offspring to ensure their survival.
progeny	A formal, often literary term for descendants or the young of people and animals. Carries a more sophisticated tone. Her progeny carried on the family tradition. The progeny of the royal family were expected to assume leadership roles.
cubs	Specifically refers to the young of certain animals, like bears, lions, and tigers. The bear cubs played near their mother. Lion cubs are very playful and active.

Examples of usage

The lioness was protecting her young from danger.
The farm had a variety of young, including lambs and piglets.

Translations

Translations of the word "young" in other languages:

🇵🇹 jovem

🇮🇳 युवा

🇩🇪 jung

🇮🇩 muda

🇺🇦 молодий

🇵🇱 młody

🇯🇵 若い (わかい)

🇫🇷 jeune

🇪🇸 joven

🇹🇷 genç

🇰🇷 젊은 (jeolmeun)

🇸🇦 شاب

🇨🇿 mladý

🇸🇰 mladý

🇨🇳 年轻 (niánqīng)

🇸🇮 mlad

🇮🇸 ungur

🇰🇿 жас

🇬🇪 ახალგაზრდა

🇦🇿 gənc

🇲🇽 joven

Etymology

The word 'young' originated from the Old English word 'geong', which is related to the Dutch 'jong' and the German 'jung'. It has been used to describe early stages of life and development across various languages and cultures. The concept of youth and vitality associated with being young has been a common theme throughout history, with societies valuing the energy and potential of the young.

See also: youngling, youngster, youngsters.

Word Frequency Rank

With position #320, this word is vital for basic English fluency. It appears very frequently in everyday language and should be among the first words you learn and actively use.

...
317 able
318 term
319 open
320 young
321 themselves
322 true
323 asked
...