childish
gb/t͡ʃˈaɪldɪʃ/ us/t͡ʃˈaɪldɪʃ/
B1
English
~ 4700
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Immature or silly like a child
Acting like a young child in a way that is not grown-up.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is childish
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'childish' with 'childlike'. 'Childish' usually has a negative meaning, while 'childlike' is often positive.
Synonyms
immature (Suggests a lack of emotional or mental development, not just similarity to children.)
|
juvenile (Often used in a critical tone to mean silly or unsuitable for an adult.)
Antonyms
mature (Describes someone who behaves in a responsible and adult way.)
|
grown-up (Informal term for behaving appropriately for an adult.)
Collocations
childish behavior
|childish attitude
|childish reaction
|childish game
Themes
emotions
|personality
|daily life
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Stop being so childish and listen to what I’m saying.
- His childish refusal to apologize made the situation worse.
- She gave him a childish grin after winning the game.
- It was childish to argue over something so small.
- They teased each other in a childish way.
Learner examples
- He is childish when he does not get his way.
- She made a childish face at her brother.
- It is childish to fight over toys.
- My little sister can be childish sometimes.
adjective
B2
property
2
Made for or related to children
Made for or about children.
Usage pattern:
[something] is childish
Synonyms
child-oriented (Focuses on being designed for children rather than describing behavior.)
Antonyms
adult-oriented (Designed for adults rather than children.)
Collocations
childish games
|childish stories
|childish clothing
Themes
daily life
|family
|daily_life
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The movie had a childish plot and bright colors.
- These puzzles are too childish for older kids.
- The book’s humor was rather childish, aimed at young readers.
Learner examples
- This game is childish and easy to play.
- The story is childish but fun.
- She wore a childish dress with cartoon prints.
Grammar
Dictionary form
childish
IPA
GB/t͡ʃˈaɪldɪʃ/
US/t͡ʃˈaɪldɪʃ/
Syllables & stress
child - ish (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (child)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: childish
Word family
Expressions
act childish
1/ˈækt t͡ʃˈaɪldɪʃ/
fixed phrase
informal
Behave immaturely like a child
To behave in a way that is not grown-up, like a child.
Examples
- Stop acting childish and help me clean up.
- They were acting childish during the meeting.
childish tantrum
1/t͡ʃˈaɪldɪʃ tˈæntɹəm/
fixed phrase
Immature angry outburst
An angry reaction by an adult that is like how a small child might act.
Examples
- He threw a childish tantrum when he didn’t get the promotion.
- Her childish tantrum embarrassed everyone at the meeting.
in a childish way
1/ˈɪn ə t͡ʃˈaɪldɪʃ wˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
Behaving like a child
Doing something like a young child would do it.
Examples
- He spoke in a childish way to annoy her.
- She laughed in a childish way when she saw the joke.