English Reference
adjective

youthful

adj.
US /ˈjuθfəɫ/ UK /jˈuːθfəl/ youth·ful

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    looking or acting younger than you actually are.

    having the appearance, freshness, or vigour associated with being young, often used as a compliment for older individuals.

    Simple

    Even at seventy, he maintained a youthful energy that tired out his grandchildren.

    In context

    The portrait captured her youthful glow, preserving a sense of vitality that remained unchanged even as the decades passed.

    young lookingfreshsprightly
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    typical of young people or the time when you are young.

    characteristic of or relating to the period of youth.

    Simple

    The magazine is full of youthful fashion trends and pop music news.

    In context

    The author’s early novels are marked by a youthful idealism that later gave way to a more cynical worldview.


From youth + -ful.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated