mature
B2Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
Having reached full natural growth or development; fully developed physically, mentally, or emotionally.
Used to describe things (like plans, ideas, processes, or wines/cheeses) that have reached a desired or advanced state of development, or people who behave with the wisdom and restraint expected of adults.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As an adjective, often implies a positive judgement of wisdom or development. As a verb, it can be transitive (mature something) or intransitive (something matures).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'mature' as an adjective is more commonly used in formal contexts for people. In American English, its use is slightly broader and more common in corporate/evaluation contexts ('a mature approach'). The verb form is identical in use.
Connotations
Positive in both, implying wisdom, responsibility, and full development.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English in business/HR contexts (e.g., 'mature market', 'mature student').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SVO (transitive verb): He matured the wine in oak barrels.SV (intransitive verb): Her artistic style matured over the decade.Link Verb: The plan is now mature enough to present.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Wine and cheese mature with age.”
- “Let the idea mature for a while.”
- “He's mature for his years.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a market with stable, slow growth or a product in its late lifecycle stage.
Academic
Describes a well-developed theory or a student who begins university later in life.
Everyday
Used to describe a person's responsible behaviour or a food/drink that is fully aged.
Technical
In finance: a bond/security that has reached its repayment date. In biology: a fully developed organism.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The investment needs five years to mature.
- She matured into a confident leader.
- We will mature the whisky in sherry casks.
American English
- The plan matured over several months.
- He really matured during his time in the army.
- The bond will mature next quarter.
adverb
British English
- He acted very maturely in the crisis.
- The wine has maturedly complex flavours.
American English
- She handled the criticism maturely.
- The plan was maturely thought out.
adjective
British English
- She showed a mature understanding of the issue.
- The university welcomes mature students.
- A good Stilton is a beautifully mature cheese.
American English
- He made a mature decision to apologise.
- The company operates in a mature industry.
- Her style of painting is very mature.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My brother is more mature than me.
- Fruit must be mature to eat.
- He's very mature for a fourteen-year-old.
- The cheese is left to mature for six months.
- After travelling, she returned a more mature and confident person.
- The market for smartphones is now considered mature.
- His later novels display a mature and nuanced understanding of human conflict.
- The strategy needed time to mature before it could be successfully implemented.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MATURE MAT: a rug that is fully unrolled and ready to be used properly.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEVELOPMENT IS RIPENING (fruit, cheese) / WISDOM IS A FULLY GROWN TREE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'зрелый' ONLY for age; 'mature' emphasizes mental/emotional development more than physical age.
- Do not use 'mature' to simply mean 'old' (use 'elderly' or 'older').
- The verb 'to mature' is NOT the same as 'to grow up' (more specific, about reaching a final developed state).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He is very mature for an old man.' (Redundant) Correct: 'He is very mature for his age.'
- Incorrect: 'This cheese needs to mature more time.' Correct: 'This cheese needs more time to mature.' or 'needs to mature for longer.'
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'mature' used most literally regarding physical development?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally, yes. When applied to a person's behaviour or character, it is a positive term implying wisdom and responsibility beyond one's years.
'Ripe' is used almost exclusively for fruits, seeds, or conditions (a ripe opportunity). 'Mature' has a broader application to people, ideas, markets, and cheeses/wines, implying a longer, more complete process of development.
Rarely. In contexts like 'mature market', it can imply lack of growth potential. Calling someone 'mature' sarcastically can imply they are boring or old-fashioned.
In the UK and Commonwealth systems, a student who enters university at an older age (typically over 21), often after a period of work or other life experience, and not directly from secondary school.
Collections
Part of a collection
Personality Traits
B1 · 36 words · Describing character and personal qualities.