# youth

/ˈjuθ/ (US) · /jˈuːθ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. period of life

noun · CEFR B1

the time of your life when you are young, usually between being a child and a full adult.

For teachers: the period between childhood and maturity. Uncountable in this sense.

- In her youth, she traveled across Europe with just a backpack.
- He often looked back on his youth with a mixture of nostalgia and regret, wishing he had pursued his musical talents more seriously.

### 2. young people collectively

noun · CEFR B1

young people as a group in society.

For teachers: young people considered as a collective group. Often takes a plural verb.

- The local government is investing more money in services for the youth.
- The youth of today face unique challenges regarding digital privacy that previous generations never had to consider.

### 3. a young man

noun · CEFR B1

a young person, especially a teenage boy or young man.

For teachers: a young person, particularly a male adolescent or young man.

- A group of youths was seen hanging out near the park entrance.
- The 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

noun · CEFR B2

the fresh or energetic feeling of being young.

For teachers: the state or quality of being young, especially regarding vigor, freshness, or appearance.

- Regular exercise helped him maintain his youth well into his sixties.
- The portrait captured the fleeting youth of the subject, emphasizing the brightness in her eyes and the smoothness of her skin.

## Examples

- He spent most of his youth traveling around Europe.
- The local community center offers various programs designed to support the city's youth and keep them engaged after school.
- The poet reflects on the fleeting nature of youth, contrasting the boundless energy of his early years with the quiet wisdom gained through decades of experience.

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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.