immature
/,imə'tjuə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Not fully developed or grown; not mature: Describes living things, especially people, animals, or plants, that are in an early stage of life, growth, or development.
- Lacking the emotional, intellectual, or behavioral qualities associated with adulthood; not fully mature in character or judgment: Describes behavior, attitudes, or actions that are childish, irresponsible, or not appropriate for one's age.
- Not yet ripe or ready for use: Describes fruits, plans, ideas, or conditions that are not yet fully developed or suitable.
Examples of Usage
- Describing a living being:
- The immature bird could not yet fly. (The young bird had not yet developed the ability to fly.)
- He is still immature for his age. (His behavior or understanding is not as developed as expected for someone his age.)
- Describing behavior or character:
- Throwing a tantrum over a minor issue is very immature. (Such a reaction is childish and not appropriate for an adult.)
- She regretted her immature decision. (She regretted the decision she made when she was less experienced or wise.)
- Describing an object or condition:
- The fruit was picked while still immature. (The fruit was harvested before it was ripe.)
- The plan was abandoned due to immature market conditions. (The plan was stopped because the market was not yet ready for it.)
Advanced Usage
- In a technical/biological context: Often used to describe organisms or cells that have not reached their final adult form or stage of development.
- Immature white blood cells were observed in the sample. (The sample contained white blood cells that were not fully developed.)
- As a critique of ideas or systems: Can describe theories, technologies, or institutions that are not fully formed or sophisticated.
- The technology is still immature and requires more research. (The technology is not yet fully developed or reliable.)
Variants and Related Words
- Immaturity (noun): The state or quality of being immature.
- His immaturity was evident in his inability to handle criticism.
- Premature (adjective): Occurring or done before the proper or usual time. (Note: This is related but distinct, emphasizing "too early" rather than simply "not yet mature".)
- The baby was born premature.
Synonyms
- Childish: (Often negative) Behaving like a child, especially in a silly or petty way.
- Juvenile: Relating to young people; or (negative) childish.
- Unripe: Not yet ripe (for fruits, grains).
- Undeveloped: Not fully grown or advanced.
- Callow: (Especially of a young person) inexperienced and immature.
Antonyms
- Mature: Fully developed physically; fully developed in personality or judgment.
- Ripe: (Of fruit or grain) fully developed and ready to be harvested or eaten.
- Adult: Fully grown and developed.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To show one's immature side: To reveal a lack of maturity through one's actions or words.
- Even as a CEO, he sometimes shows his immature side during meetings.
- (As) green as grass: Very inexperienced or naive. (This idiom uses "green" similarly to one sense of "immature".)
- He was as green as grass when he started his first job.
Adjective
- (of birds) not yet having developed feathers
- a small unfledged sparrow on the window sill
- not yet mature
- not fully developed or mature; not ripe
- unripe fruit
- fried green tomatoes
- green wood
- (used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
- young people
- characteristic of a lack of maturity
- immature behavior