1
a
: being in the first or an early stage of life, growth, or development
b
c
: of an early, tender, or desirable age for use as food or drink
fresh young lamb
a young wine
2
: having little experience
3
a
: recently come into being : new
a young publishing company
b
4
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of youth or a young person
young at heart
5
capitalized
: representing a new or rejuvenated especially political group or movement
plural young
1
2
: a single recently born or hatched animal
Examples of young in a Sentence
Adjective
He looks young for his age.
A very nice young man greeted us at the door.
Young people today have a lot of opportunities.
He dreamed of being an artist when he was young.
The movie isn't suitable for young viewers.
He's still too young to buy alcohol legally.
Our youngest daughter just started school.
“When I was young,” the man said, “the world was a different place.”
The season is still young.
Noun
music that appeals to the young
The very young and the elderly are particularly sensitive to the disease.
a robin feeding her young
The young of a wolf are called pups.
Recent Examples on the Web
Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Given that the spider monkey infants are too young to be released back to the wild without a mother to feed and protect them from natural predators, they’re brought to the Texas zoo for care.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
Felony record this young doesn't bode well for their future, so what now?
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for young
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Those who took a quick peek inside the front window saw walls lined with bookcases and young, Black men strewn about in old, thrifted armchairs, their laps piled high with books.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Given that the spider monkey infants are too young to be released back to the wild without a mother to feed and protect them from natural predators, they’re brought to the Texas zoo for care.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
Unsurprisingly, the trend skews young, with viewers aged 18 to 34 being 21% more likely to watch a mini-drama.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
Felony record this young doesn't bode well for their future, so what now?
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for young
Cite this Entry
“Young.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/young. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
young
1 of 2 adjective1
a
: being in the early stage of life, growth, or development
2
: lacking in experience
3
: recently come into being : new
young rock strata
4
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of youth or a young person
young at heart
young
2 of 2 plural noun1
: young persons : youth
music that appeals to the young
2
: immature or recently born offspring
a bear and her young
Medical Definition
young
noun
plural young
1
: immature offspring
—used especially of animals
2
: a single recently born or hatched animal
Biographical Definition
Young
2 of 6biographical name (2)
Brig*ham
ˈbri-gəm 
1801–1877 American Mormon leader
1801–1877 American Mormon leader
Young
3 of 6biographical name (3)
Cy originally Denton True Young 1867–1955 American baseball player
Young
4 of 6biographical name (4)
Michael W(arren) 1949– American geneticist
Young
5 of 6biographical name (5)
Owen D. 1874–1962 American lawyer
Young
6 of 6biographical name (6)
Whitney Moore 1921–1971 American civil rights leader
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