adulthood
gb/ədˈʌlthˌʊd/ us/ədˈʌlthˌʊd/
B2
English
felnőttkor, felnőttlét, nagykorúság
NOUN
B2
1
felnőttkor
B1
Usage pattern:
[in/during/throughout] adulthood; [reach/enter] adulthood
Many habits formed in childhood continue into adulthood.
A gyermekkorban kialakult sok szokás felnőttkorban is megmarad.
She spent most of her adulthood in Chicago.
Felnőttkorának nagy részét Chicagóban töltötte.
Regular exercise in early adulthood can improve health later in life.
Learner examples
He reached adulthood in a small town.
Egy kisvárosban lépett felnőttkorba.
My parents taught me skills I still use in adulthood.
A szüleim olyan készségekre tanítottak, amelyeket felnőttkoromban is használok.
Common mistake:
Adulthood is usually uncountable: say “in adulthood” or “during adulthood,” not usually “in the adulthood.”
Meaning
adult stage of life
Collocations
reach adulthood
|enter adulthood
|early adulthood
|young adulthood
|middle adulthood
|later adulthood
|throughout adulthood
|during adulthood
|in adulthood
|transition to adulthood
Synonyms
adult life (more everyday and slightly less formal)
|
maturity (can refer to being fully developed, not just the period of adult life)
Antonyms
childhood (the earlier stage of life before adulthood)
|
adolescence (the teenage transitional stage before adulthood)
Themes
life_stages
|people
|daily_life
Definition
the time in your life when you are an adult
The stage or period of life after childhood and adolescence, when a person is an adult.
NOUN
B2
2
felnőttlét
B2
nagykorúság
B2
Usage pattern:
the responsibilities/freedoms/challenges of adulthood; [make the transition] to adulthood
Getting her first full-time job felt like a step into adulthood.
Az első teljes állása olyan volt számára, mint egy lépés a felnőttlét felé.
The ceremony marks adulthood in their community.
A szertartás közösségükben a felnőtté válást jelzi.
For many people, financial independence is an important sign of adulthood.
Learner examples
Adulthood brings more freedom and more responsibility.
A felnőttlét több szabadsággal és több felelősséggel jár.
In many countries, legal adulthood begins at 18.
Sok országban a nagykorúság 18 éves korban kezdődik.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse adulthood with adultery; they are unrelated words.
Meaning
adult status and responsibility
Collocations
the responsibilities of adulthood
|the pressures of adulthood
|the challenges of adulthood
|the freedoms of adulthood
|legal adulthood
|emotional adulthood
|prepare for adulthood
|path to adulthood
|transition into adulthood
|mark adulthood
Synonyms
adult status (emphasizes being officially or socially recognized as an adult)
|
maturity (emphasizes emotional or personal development rather than legal status)
Antonyms
minority (legal status of being under the age of adulthood)
|
childhood (a time before adult responsibilities and status)
Themes
life_stages
|law
|responsibility
|society
Definition
the condition of being an adult and having adult responsibilities
The state of being considered an adult, especially with the independence, responsibilities, or legal rights associated with adult life.
Grammar
Dictionary form
adulthood
IPA
GB/ədˈʌlthˌʊd/
US/ədˈʌlthˌʊd/
Syllables & stress
adult - hood (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (hood)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: adulthood
- Plural: adulthood
Expressions
come of age
1/kˈʌm əv ˈeɪd͡ʒ/
idiom
reach adulthood or maturity
To reach the age when you are an adult or when something becomes fully developed.
Examples
- He came of age at eighteen and inherited the family business.
- The technology has finally come of age and is now widely used.
come of age
1/kˈʌm əv ˈeɪd͡ʒ/
idiom
reach adult status
to become old enough to be considered an adult
Examples
- She came of age during a time of major social change.
- In this country, citizens come of age at 18.
- The novel follows a boy as he comes of age in a small fishing village.
Learner examples
- He came of age last year.
- The story is about a girl coming of age.
early adulthood
1/ˈɚli ədˈʌlthˌʊd/
fixed phrase
beginning of adult life
the first years of being an adult
Examples
- Career choices made in early adulthood can shape later opportunities.
- Symptoms often first appear in early adulthood.
- He developed a love of cooking in early adulthood.
Learner examples
- She became independent in early adulthood.
- Early adulthood is often a time of change.
emerging adulthood
1/ɪmˈɚd͡ʒɪŋ ədˈʌlthˌʊd/
fixed phrase
technical
extended young-adult transition
the years when young people are adults but are still becoming fully independent
Examples
- Researchers use the term emerging adulthood to describe the period from about 18 to 29.
- Financial dependence on parents is common in emerging adulthood.
- Identity exploration is a major theme in studies of emerging adulthood.
Learner examples
- Emerging adulthood can last through the twenties.
reach adulthood
1/ɹˈit͡ʃ ədˈʌlthˌʊd/
fixed phrase
become an adult
to become an adult
Examples
- Many children in the study were followed until they reached adulthood.
- By the time he reached adulthood, he had lived in three different countries.
- Some animals take many years to reach adulthood.
Learner examples
- She reached adulthood in 2020.
- Most people reach legal adulthood at 18.
transition to adulthood
1/tɹænzˈɪʃən tə ədˈʌlthˌʊd/
fixed phrase
change into adult life
the process of becoming an adult and taking on adult responsibilities
Examples
- Leaving school is often part of the transition to adulthood.
- The organization helps young people in foster care with the transition to adulthood.
- For some teenagers, the transition to adulthood happens very quickly.
Learner examples
- College helped him with the transition to adulthood.
- The transition to adulthood can be difficult.
young adulthood
1/jˈʌŋ ədˈʌlthˌʊd/
fixed phrase
early adult years
the first part of adult life
Examples
- Many people move away from home during young adulthood.
- The program supports people with disabilities as they enter young adulthood.
- Friendships formed in young adulthood can last for decades.
Learner examples
- She traveled a lot in young adulthood.
- Young adulthood can be an exciting time.