youth
n.-
1 period of life (n.) B1 Intermediatethe time of your life when you are young, usually between being a child and a full adult.
the period between childhood and maturity. Uncountable in this sense.
ExampleIn her youth, she traveled across Europe with just a backpack.
ExampleHe often looked back on his youth with a mixture of nostalgia and regret, wishing he had pursued his musical talents more seriously.
- adulthood
- old age
-
2 young people collectively (n.) B1 Intermediateyoung people as a group in society.
young people considered as a collective group. Often takes a plural verb.
ExampleThe local government is investing more money in services for the youth.
ExampleThe youth of today face unique challenges regarding digital privacy that previous generations never had to consider.
- the young
- younger generation
- the elderly
Show 2 more sensesShow fewer
-
3 a young man (n.) B1 Intermediatea young person, especially a teenage boy or young man.
a young person, particularly a male adolescent or young man.
ExampleA group of youths was seen hanging out near the park entrance.
ExampleThe witness described seeing a tall youth in a dark hoodie running away from the scene shortly after the alarm sounded.
-
4 quality of being young (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatethe fresh or energetic feeling of being young.
the state or quality of being young, especially regarding vigor, freshness, or appearance.
ExampleRegular exercise helped him maintain his youth well into his sixties.
ExampleThe portrait captured the fleeting youth of the subject, emphasizing the brightness in her eyes and the smoothness of her skin.
From Middle English youthe, youghte, ȝouþe, from Old English ġeoguþ (“the state of being young; youth”), from Proto-West Germanic juwunþa, from Proto-Germanic jugunþō, *jugunþiz (“youth”), corresponding to young + -th (abstract nominal suffix). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Juugd, West Frisian jeugd, Dutch jeugd, German Low German Jöögd, German Jugend.
- Nounyouth
- Adjectiveyouthful