Young Younger I People Jʌŋ Age Older Adjective

• young babies need to be wrapped up warmly.
• a young country
• caterpillars eat the young leaves of this plant.
• it's a young wine, not really up to drinking yet.

young

1. having lived or existed for only a short time; not fully developed
• OPPOSITE old
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/old
• Young babies need to be wrapped up warmly.
• a young country
• Caterpillars eat the young leaves of this plant.
• It's a young wine, not really up to drinking yet.
• The night is still young (= it has only just started).
• Small businesses, especially young ones, tend to operate on a tight budget.

Extra Examples

• Fruit Fresh is a young company that is growing fast.
• It's quite a young orchestra.
2. not yet old; not as old as others
• OPPOSITE old
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/old
• young people
• They sent many young men and women off to war.
• My son's thirteen but he's young for his age (= not as developed as other boys of the same age).
• I'm too young to remember much about the 1990s.
• They married young (= at an early age).
• My mother died young.
• She looks much younger than her 39 years.
• I don't know how families with young children manage to cope.
• a young girl/boy/adult/person
• In his younger days he played rugby for Wales.
• I am the youngest of four sisters.
• talented young football players
• I met the young Michelle Obama at Princeton.
• Her grandchildren keep her young (= keep her feeling young).

Extra Examples

• He seemed quite young to have so much responsibility.
• He still looks young for his age.
• I felt young again.
• She looked young enough to be his daughter.
• She still looks very young.
• I met the young Bill Clinton at Oxford.
• The composer died tragically young, just three days before her thirtieth birthday.
• The team is full of talented young players.
• This story is about a handsome young prince who falls in love with a village girl.
3. consisting of young people or young children; with a low average age
• They have a young family.
• a young audience
• This cottage would be perfect for a couple with a young family.
4. suitable or appropriate for young people
• SYNONYM youthful
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/youthful
• young fashion
• The clothes she wears are much too young for her.
5. used to show that you are angry or annoyed with a particular young person
• I think you owe me an apology, young lady!
6. used before or after a person’s name to show the difference between them and an older relative
• COMPARE elder
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/elder_2
• the younger Kennedy
• William Pitt the younger
7. 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?
8. used when you are commenting that time is passing and that you are growing older
• We need to start thinking about our retirement. We’re not getting any younger, you know.
9. used to describe a young person who acts in a more sensible way than you would expect for a person of their age
10. thinking and behaving like a young person even when you are old
• My father is 76 but he’s still young at heart.
• He's over 70, but he's young at heart.
11. young people should enjoy themselves as much as possible, because they will have to work and worry later in their lives

Word Origin

• Old English g(e)ong, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch jong and German jung, also to youth; from an Indo-European root shared by Latin juvenis.