How to Use grown-up in a Sentence

grown-up

adjective
  • Just like warm neutrals, rich chocolate brown makes pink feel quite grown-up.
    — Lauren Jones, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2025
  • Use those fresh plum tomatoes from the farmers' market for this fun, grown-up mac and cheese recipe.
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 7 May 2026
  • As luck would have it, that noncommittal length is also very chic and grown-up.
    — Loren Savini, Allure, 22 May 2026
  • Footwear with impeccable manners and a very special kind of poise is grown-up in the best sense of the word.
    — Alex Sales, Glamour, 5 Apr. 2026
  • This is a place to escape the family; quite literally a grown-up’s club.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026
  • Graceful, elongated almond nail shapes can help make pretty blooms feel more grown-up, and pastels look great on any length.
    — Elle Turner, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Then, just add dress shoes for a sophisticated, grown-up ensemble.
    — Kristina Rutkowski, Footwear News, 22 Sep. 2025
  • The combination with the neutral dark-blue jean skirt keeps the look still feeling grown-up and not too distracting.
    — Jana Ackermann, Glamour, 28 Mar. 2026
  • The jasmine and whipped coconut sneak in, giving it a soft floral creaminess that makes the caramel feel grown-up instead of candy-shop.
    — Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 12 Sep. 2025
  • There was something so exciting about holding those glowing wands and feeling just a little grown-up while doing it.
    — Abby Price, Southern Living, 17 June 2026
  • Cherry Stem was designed to feel more complex, sexier, woodier and all grown-up.
    — Dahvi Shira, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
  • These aren’t the same black ballet flats that once accompanied school uniforms; today’s Mary Janes are all grown-up.
    — Nina Derwin, Glamour, 8 Jan. 2026
  • For families While the crowd skews more grown-up, little ones are also welcome, and there are some small cots, high chairs, and toys available for children.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • The new edible notes are warmer, richer and far more grown-up than the cotton candy era that defined early 2010s gourmands.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
  • On an album of spectral love songs, the DJ and producer’s misty dream pop feels bigger, bolder, and decidedly grown-up.
    — Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Inside The Limited XT feels like a grown-up Subaru cabin - useful, roomy and not fussy.
    — Josh Max, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
  • For families While adjoining room blocks can be booked, the overall vibe of this hotel feels more sophisticated and grown-up than suitable for little ones or strollers.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Idealsanxun Wool Plaid Mini Skirt Plaid skirts are prep-school core, but this one feels grown-up, with its structured cut and warm wool blend.
    — Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Idealsanxun Wool Plaid Mini Skirt Plaid skirts are prep-school core, but this one feels grown-up, with its structured cut and warm wool blend.
    — Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2025
  • But this 100% cotton design is graceful and all grown-up, featuring split corners, decorative stitching, and a tidy silhouette.
    — Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026
  • For families There are no age restrictions for younger guests, although the atmosphere is quite calm and grown-up plus there are no specific children’s amenities or facilities in the restaurant.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 May 2026
  • While science, interstellar exploration and the far-reaching depths of space can feel a little complicated and 'grown-up', a love of the universe is a, well, universal experience.
    — Grace Dean, Space.com, 18 Dec. 2025
  • Now grown-up with disposable income, the original Swatch collector now arrives with spending power, resale fluency and a clear sense that owning the object is only half the reward.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
  • Today’s new wave of halter tops feels grown-up and refined, reimagined in sleek, streamlined shapes that have become fixtures everywhere from the runway to the red carpet — and across the vacation wardrobes defining Euro-summer style.
    — Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 30 May 2026
  • Drinks feel just as grown-up, shifting away from sweet sips like sodas (a 2025 staple) and sugary mixed drinks toward options like sparkling water with citrus, martinis (with an olive or onion, of course), savory cocktails, and bloody Marys or Caesars.
    — Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Powder Blue and Burgundy Powder blue sometimes gets a bad rep for being associated with a juvenile baby blue, but one way to give it a more grown-up and sophisticated appearance is by pairing it with a bold and serious color.
    — Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
  • Working with sister stylist duo Chloe and Chenelle Delgadillo, Rodrigo has reconstructed her signature looks to feel softer and more grown-up, with outfits drawing from fashion references just as diverse as her musical taste.
    — Chelsey Sanchez, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
  • For families While certain areas of Zash feel distinctly grown-up, the citrus groves are hide-and-seek heaven, the pool is open enough to keep one eye on a brood with the other on a glass of Donna Fugata, and a sensible approach to timings makes the restaurant fair game too.
    — Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Katelaine McGee, founder of Katelaine McGee Interiors in Dallas, Texas, strongly recommends swapping out your grommet-style drapes with pinch pleats for a look that’s timeless, elegant, and just as grown-up as you.
    — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grown-up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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