Adults — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /ə-ˈdəlt/ (verb) /ˌprē-ə-ˈdəlt/ (adjective)

Meaning & Definition of Adults

Adults (verb)

  1. to behave like an adult, to attend to the ordinary tasks required of a responsible adult
  2. to become an adult

Adults (noun)

  1. one that is adult; especially, a human being after an age (such as 21) specified by law

Adults (adjective)

  1. preceding adulthood, not yet having reached adulthood or the adult stage of development

Adults (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a fully grown person

    "at the beach, the adults sat under broad umbrellas while the children splashed in the water"

    similar: grown-ups
    related: middle-agers, ancients, elders, gaffers, graybeards, oldsters, old-timers, senior citizens, seniors
    near: bairns (chiefly Scottish), children, cubs, kids, moppets, tads, toddlers, tots, tykes, babies, infants, adolescents, juveniles, minors, younglings, youngsters, youths, preteen-agers, preteens, teenagers, teeners, teens, teenyboppers, tweens

Related Entry: Adult (noun)

Adult is a different word from Adults. The synonyms below are for adult, not for adults.

  1. a fully grown person

    "at the beach, the adults sat under broad umbrellas while the children splashed in the water"

    similar: grown-up
    related: middle-ager, ancient, elder, gaffer, graybeard, oldster, old-timer, senior, senior citizen
    near: bairn (chiefly Scottish), child, cub, kid, moppet, tad, toddler, tot, tyke, baby, infant, adolescent, juvenile, minor, youngling, youngster, youth, preteen, preteen-ager, teen, teenager, teener, teenybopper, tween

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Adults

The most common words with a similar meaning to Adults:

grown-ups

Related Words for Adults

middle-agers, ancients, elders, gaffers, graybeards, oldsters, old-timers, senior citizens, seniors

Near Antonyms of Adults

bairns, children, cubs, kids, moppets, tads, toddlers, tots, tykes, babies, infants, adolescents, juveniles, minors, younglings, youngsters, youths, preteen-agers, preteens, teenagers, teeners, teens, teenyboppers, tweens

Word Forms of Adults

Inflections: adulted, adulting

Derived words: adultlike (adjective), preadult (noun), preadulthood (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Adults

derivative of adult:1

First known use: 1909

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Adults

Frequently Asked Questions about Adults

What does "Adults" mean?

"Adults" means to behave like an adult, to attend to the ordinary tasks required of a responsible adult. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: to behave like an adult, to attend to the ordinary tasks required of a responsible adult.

What is another word for "Adults"?

Other words for "Adults" include grown-ups. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Adults" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Adults"?

There are 10 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Adults". Common alternatives include grown-ups.

How do you use "Adults" in a sentence?

Examples of "Adults" in a sentence: "at the beach, the adults sat under broad umbrellas while the children splashed in the water".

Is "Adults" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Adults" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Adults" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Adults"?

"Adults" is pronounced /ə-ˈdəlt/ as a verb and /ˌprē-ə-ˈdəlt/ as an adjective.

What is the origin of the word "Adults"?

"Adults" comes from derivative of adult:1. First known use: 1909.