Meaning of immature in English
Table of contents
Pronunciation
/ˌɪməˈtʊr/US accent
UK accent
to browse different examples of pronunciation.Classifying Adjective
immatureDefinitions
1. lacking in developmentExamples
- « immature plans »
- « an unformed character »
Synonyms
Qualitative Adjective
immatureEtymology
mid 16th century (in the sense ‘premature’, referring to death): from Latin immaturus‘untimely, unripe’, from in-‘not’ + maturus‘ripe’ (see mature)Definitions
1. characteristic of a lack of maturityExamples
- « immature behavior »
Synonyms
Antonyms
- 2. (used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
Examples
- « young people »
Synonyms
- adolescent
- teen
- teenage
- teenaged
- boyish
- boylike
- schoolboyish
- childlike
- childly
- early
- formative
- girlish
- schoolgirlish
- infantile
- junior
- little
- small
- newborn
- puppyish
- puppylike
- tender
- vulnerable
- youngish
- youthful
- vernal
- preteen
- preadolescent
Antonyms
- 3. not fully developed or mature
Examples
- « not ripe »
- « unripe fruit »
- « fried green tomatoes »
- « green wood »
Synonyms
Antonyms
- 4. not yet mature
Synonyms
- adolescent
- embryonic
- embryologic
- embryonal
- formative
- inchoative
- larval
- prepubescent
- prepubertal
- prepupal
- pubescent
- pupal
- underdeveloped
- unformed
Antonyms
- 5. (of birds) not yet having developed feathers
Examples
- « a small unfledged sparrow on the window sill »
Synonyms
Antonyms
Famous quotes
- « The legal system in Afghanistan is very immature and porous. » Lindsey Graham
- « The consuming desire of most human beings is deliberately to plant their whole life in the hands of some other person. I would describe this method of searching for happiness as immature. Development of character consists solely in moving toward self-sufficiency. » Quentin Crisp
- « Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own... Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature mind often mistakes one for the other, or assumes that the greater the love, the greater the jealousy. » Robert A. Heinlein
- « Basically my wife was immature. I'd be at home in the bath and she'd come in and sink my boats. » Woody Allen
- « Imagination, the supreme delight of the immortal and the immature, should be limited. In order to enjoy life, we should not enjoy it too much. » Vladimir Nabokov