Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Of, characteristic of, or intended for adults.
  • adjective Having or showing maturity in outlook, attitude, or appearance.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Of, pertaining to, or suitable for adults.
  • adjective Having a mature outlook.
  • noun An adult.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • I think what Daniels has done is put a spotlight on what I call the 'grown-up' brand of fiscal conservative politics, a brand of conservatism that tells the truth about big problems without pandering to the simple answers or the knee-jerk.

    NPR Topics: News 2011

  • "I think what Daniels has done is put a spotlight on what I call the 'grown-up' brand of fiscal conservative politics, a brand of conservatism that tells the truth about big problems without pandering to the simple answers or the knee-jerk," Murphy says.

    NPR Topics: News 2011

  • From the pros, here's a 1-2-3-punch of totally suh-weet and exquisitely simple watermelon cocktails that cool the head like a brook-soaked bandana, and taste a lot better than Gatorade, as well as a lot of other so-called grown-up drinks.

    Seeds of Recognition Steve Garbarino 2011

  • My teachers said it’s not polite to call a grown-up by their first name.

    The Cure for Modern Life Lisa Tucker 2008

  • My teachers said it’s not polite to call a grown-up by their first name.

    The Cure for Modern Life Lisa Tucker 2008

  • My teachers said it’s not polite to call a grown-up by their first name.

    The Cure for Modern Life Lisa Tucker 2008

  • "They wrote, and hopefully we'll perform in a nicely grown-up way, the fallout of the 'Peter slept with Bolivia thing' with Olivia," Jackson says.

    Fringe: Is Alt-Olivia Pregnant? 2011

  • These are two grown-up people who are trying to deal with a circumstance that nobody on our planet has literally ever dealt with.

    Fringe: Is Alt-Olivia Pregnant? 2011

  • Gen Y is facing the realities of grown-up life and our current economy, and they are discovering that dreams don t pay the rent.

    Christine Hassler: Are 20-Somethings Naively Optimistic About Their Careers? Christine Hassler 2011

  • Now that Gen Y is facing the realities of grown-up life and our current economy, they are discovering that dreams don't pay the rent.

    Christine Hassler: Are 20-Somethings Naively Optimistic About Their Careers? Christine Hassler 2011

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