Word
premature
Phoneticspre·ma·ture, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌpɹiməˈtʃʊɹ/
UK/pɹɪmətʃˈɔː/
Definitions
01happening too soon
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. happening or done before the right time or before you are ready.
adj. occurring or performed before the proper or expected time; often implies that the action was hasty or ill-timed.
“It is a bit premature to celebrate when we haven't seen the final results yet.”
“The director's premature announcement of the merger caused significant volatility in the stock market before the official contracts were even signed.”
02born early
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine
adj. born before the full period of pregnancy is finished.
adj. relating to an infant born before the end of the standard gestation period.
“The premature twins needed to stay in the hospital for a few extra weeks.”
“Medical advancements have significantly improved the survival rates for extremely premature infants born before twenty-six weeks of gestation.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03a baby born early
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Medicine Technical
n. a baby that is born before it is fully developed.
n. an infant born before the completion of the normal gestation period.
“The hospital has a special unit dedicated to caring for prematures.”
“The neonatal intensive care unit provides specialized respiratory support for prematures whose lungs are not yet fully functional.”
Synonyms
04sexual dysfunction
C1 · Advanced Medicine Technical · Informal
adj. used to describe a man who reaches a sexual climax too quickly.
adj. referring to the occurrence of ejaculation sooner than desired, typically before or shortly after penetration.
“He was worried that his premature climax would affect his relationship.”
“Clinical psychologists often treat premature ejaculation through a combination of behavioral exercises and anxiety management techniques.”
Usage
Almost exclusively used in the set phrase 'premature ejaculation'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “premature” in context.
Real-World Examples
“Air pollution can stunt the growth of young children's lungs leaving them at an increased risk of asthma, heart disease, diabetes and even premature death.” “It added it was aiming to to support families with feeding difficulties, premature births, delayed milk supply or other challenges, and would support up to 160 mothers.” Etymology
From Latin praemātūrus, equivalent to pre- + mature. First use appears c. 1440 in a translation of Palladius's De Re Rustica.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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