young man
Definition
Noun: 1. A male person in the period between childhood and adulthood; a teenage or young adult male. 2. A man who is the romantic partner of a girl or young woman; a boyfriend.
Usage
- The term "young man" is used to refer to a male individual, typically in his teens or twenties.
- It can be used descriptively to denote age or as a form of direct address, sometimes implying a mild reprimand or instruction.
- In its second meaning, it is a somewhat old-fashioned or formal way to refer to a boyfriend.
Examples
- Referring to age/descriptive:
- The young man at the counter was very helpful.
- A group of young men were playing basketball in the park.
- "Listen here, young man," she said to her son. "You need to clean your room."
- Referring to a romantic partner:
- She arrived at the party with her young man.
- Her father wanted to meet the young man she had been seeing.
Advanced Usage
- The phrase can carry connotations of youthfulness, potential, or sometimes inexperience.
- When used as a vocative ("Young man, come here!"), it often establishes a social hierarchy where the speaker is older or in a position of authority.
Variants and Related Words
- Youth (noun): A young man (often used collectively, e.g., "the youth of today").
- Boyfriend (noun): A more common and contemporary term for a male romantic partner.
- Lad (noun, chiefly British): A boy or young man.
- Fellow (noun, old-fashioned): A man or boy; sometimes used to mean a boyfriend.
Synonyms
- For the age meaning: teenager, adolescent, youth, lad, juvenile.
- For the partner meaning: boyfriend, beau, suitor, lover.
Related Phrases
- A fine young man: An idiomatic expression praising a youth for his good character or manners.
- Your son has grown into a fine young man.
Noun
-
a man who is the lover of a girl or young woman
-
if I'd known he was her boyfriend I wouldn't have asked
-
-
a teenager or a young adult male
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