# premature

/ˌpɹiməˈtʃʊɹ/ (US) · /pɹɪmətʃˈɔː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/premature
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. happening too soon

adjective · CEFR B2

happening or done before the right time or before you are ready.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. born early

adjective · CEFR B2

born before the full period of pregnancy is finished.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. a baby born early

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a baby that is born before it is fully developed.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. sexual dysfunction

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical · Informal

used to describe a man who reaches a sexual climax too quickly.

For teachers: 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'.

## Examples

- It is premature to celebrate before the final results arrive.
- The doctor explained that the baby was premature but healthy despite arriving three weeks early.
- The board's decision to announce the merger was premature, as several key stakeholders had not yet reviewed the final financial disclosures or the proposed leadership structure.

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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.