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young
/jʌŋ/
not old; in the early part of life
She is young and full of energy.
She is not old and has a lot of energy.
general
Having lived or existed for only a short time; not old
The young trees need plenty of water to grow.
Trees that have not been growing for long need a lot of water.
He is young at heart, always eager to learn new things.
Even though he is not physically young, he has a youthful spirit.
Can refer to people, animals, or things that are in the early stages of their existence.
general
Relatively new or recent in development or existence
The young company is growing rapidly.
The company that was recently established is expanding quickly.
Often used to describe things like businesses, technologies, or ideas that are new.
Collocations
young at hearthaving a youthful spirit despite ageyoung and innocentinexperienced and pureyoung professionalsomeone early in their career
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Age Context
The meaning of 'young' can vary based on context. For example, a 30-year-old might be considered young in some contexts but not in others.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overgeneralization
Be careful not to assume that 'young' always means physically young, as it can also refer to things that are new or recent.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'yong,' from Old English 'geong,' meaning 'young, youthful,' from Proto-Germanic 'jungaz,' related to Old Norse 'ungr,' Gothic 'juggs,' and Old High German 'jung.'
Usage Notes
Can be used as a noun to refer to young people collectively, as in 'the young of today.'
Word Breakdown
young
not old
rootEnglish Dictionary