premature

/,premə'tjuə/

Thân thiện

The premature baby sleeps in a clear incubator in the hospital nursery.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Occurring or done before the usual, expected, or proper time: Describes something happening earlier than anticipated or scheduled.
   • Born before the normal end of gestation: Describes a baby born after a gestation period significantly shorter than the typical 37-40 weeks.
   • Hasty or acting without sufficient consideration: Describes a decision, judgment, or action made too quickly, without adequate thought or information.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The announcement of the election results was premature. (It happened before the official count was finished.)
  • Advances in medicine have greatly improved the survival rates for premature babies. (Babies born much earlier than the due date.)
  • It would be premature to celebrate our victory just yet. (It would be too early and unwise to celebrate now.)

Advanced Usage

• "premature aging": The process of showing signs of aging (e.g., wrinkles, health issues) at an unusually young age.

  • Excessive sun exposure can lead to premature aging of the skin.

• "premature ejaculation": A medical/sexual health term for a common condition where ejaculation happens sooner than desired during sexual activity.

  • The doctor discussed treatment options for premature ejaculation.

Variants and Related Words

• Prematurely (adverb): In a premature manner.

  • The project ended prematurely due to lack of funding.
  • He was born prematurely, at just 30 weeks.

• Prematurity (noun): The state of being premature, especially relating to birth.

  • The infant's prematurity required specialized neonatal care.

Synonyms

• Early: Happening before the expected time. (Less specific, can be neutral.)
• Untimely: Happening at an unsuitable or unfortunate time. (Often implies a negative consequence.)
• Precipitate: Done with undue haste. (Emphasizes rashness.)
• Hasty: Done with excessive speed or urgency. (Emphasizes lack of deliberation.)

Antonyms

• Timely: Occurring at a suitable or opportune time.
• Overdue: Later than expected or required.
• Delayed: Made to happen later than planned.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Jump the gun": To start something before the proper time. (This idiom is a more informal synonym for acting prematurely).
  • They jumped the gun by announcing the merger before the contracts were signed.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. uncommonly early or before the expected time
   • illness led to his premature death
   • alcohol brought him to an untimely end
2. too soon or too hasty
   • our condemnation of him was a bit previous
   • a premature judgment
3. born after a gestation period of less than the normal time
   • a premature infant

Từ đồng nghĩa

• untimely
• previous