precocious
gb/pɹɪkˈoʊʃəs/ us/pɹɪkˈoʊʃəs/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
C1
property
1
unusually mature for one’s age
more intelligent or mature than is usual for a young age
Usage pattern:
[a/the] precocious [child/teen/student] (in [something])
Common mistake:
Often used about children; for adults it can sound odd unless you clearly mean “early in life.”
Synonyms
advanced (More developed than expected, but less focused on young age.)
|
gifted (Emphasizes special ability rather than early maturity in general.)
|
mature (Does not necessarily imply “earlier than usual.”)
Antonyms
immature (Not showing the expected level of development or self-control.)
|
childish (Behaving in a way that seems too young or silly for the age.)
Collocations
a precocious child
|a precocious kid
|a precocious student
|a precocious teenager
|a precocious talent
|a precocious intellect
|precocious intelligence
|precocious wit
|precocious confidence
|a precocious sense of humor
Themes
people
|education
|development
Examples
- She was a precocious child who could hold long conversations with adults.
- His precocious humor made him popular with older students.
- Some people found her precocious confidence charming, while others found it irritating.
Learner examples
- He is a precocious boy.
- She was precocious for her age.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
developing or happening unusually early
happening earlier than normal
Usage pattern:
precocious [development/growth/puberty]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with “premature,” which often suggests a problem or lack of readiness; “precocious” can be neutral in tone.
Synonyms
early (Common and neutral, but less specific about being unusually early.)
|
premature (Often implies “too soon” in a negative or problematic way.)
Antonyms
delayed (Happening later than expected.)
|
late (Not early; occurring toward the end of an expected period.)
Collocations
precocious development
|precocious growth
|precocious puberty
|precocious flowering
|precocious onset
|precocious maturation
|precocious symptoms
Themes
health
|biology
|development
Examples
- Doctors investigated the child’s precocious physical development.
- The report noted signs of precocious puberty.
- The plant showed precocious flowering after an unusually warm winter.
Learner examples
- The doctor called it precocious development.
Grammar
Dictionary form
precocious
IPA
GB/pɹɪkˈoʊʃəs/
US/pɹɪkˈoʊʃəs/
Syllables & stress
pre - co - cious (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (co)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: precocious
Word family
Core family
precociously
adverb C1
precocity
noun
Advanced or less common
precociousness
noun
Expressions
precocious child
1/pɹɪkˈoʊʃəs t͡ʃˈaɪld/
fixed phrase
child unusually mature or bright
a child who is more mature or smart than usual
Examples
- As a precocious child, he taught himself to read before kindergarten.
- The film features a precocious child who outsmarts the adults around her.
- Her parents worried that being labeled a precocious child put too much pressure on her.
precocious puberty
1/pɹɪkˈoʊʃəs pjˈubɚti/
fixed phrase
technical
puberty starting unusually early
when puberty starts too early
Examples
- The specialist diagnosed her with precocious puberty.
- Treatment can help manage the effects of precocious puberty.
- They were referred to a clinic to rule out precocious puberty.