# mature

/məˈtʃʊɹ/ (US) · /mətʃˈɔː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mature
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. behaving like an adult

adjective · CEFR B2

behaving in a sensible and responsible way, like an adult.

For teachers: having or showing the mental and emotional qualities of an adult.

- He is very mature for his age and handles difficult situations calmly.
- The teacher noted that the student showed a mature attitude toward criticism, using the feedback to improve her performance rather than becoming defensive.

### 2. fully grown or developed

adjective · CEFR B2

having reached full natural growth or development.

For teachers: having reached a state of full physical development or ripeness.

- The garden was full of mature trees that provided plenty of shade.
- The biologist studied the mature specimens of the species to understand their reproductive patterns in the wild.

### 3. for adults only

adjective · CEFR B2

suitable only for adults because it contains things like violence or sexual themes.

For teachers: intended for or suitable for adults only, typically due to sophisticated or explicit themes.

- The movie was rated for mature audiences only due to its violent scenes.
- The novel explores mature themes of grief and betrayal that might be too complex for younger readers to fully appreciate.

### 4. to become adult or wise

verb · CEFR B2

to become more sensible or adult as you get older.

For teachers: to develop fully in mind or body; to gain wisdom and experience over time.

- She has matured a lot since she started her first job.
- As the young artist matured, her work moved away from simple imitation toward a more profound and personal style.

### 5. to develop over time

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic

to improve or reach a finished state after a period of time.

For teachers: to bring to or reach a state of complete readiness or perfection through a process of time.

- The cheese needs to mature for several months to get its strong flavour.
- The research project was allowed to mature over several years, ensuring that the final conclusions were supported by a vast amount of longitudinal data.

### 6. financial payment due

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

to reach the date when a bank investment or insurance policy must be paid.

For teachers: to reach the end of a fixed period so that a financial instrument becomes due for payment.

- The savings bond will mature in ten years, and then we can withdraw the money.
- Investors were advised to hold their positions until the treasury bills matured to avoid the penalties associated with early liquidation.

## Examples

- The investment will mature in five years.
- As the young director began to mature, her films shifted from simple comedies to complex social dramas.
- The government bonds are set to mature next quarter, providing the necessary liquidity for the infrastructure project without requiring further borrowing from international lenders.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.