youth

noun

ˈyüth How to pronounce youth (audio)
Definition of youthnext
1
as in boy
a male person who has not yet reached adulthood a big, strapping youth who, even at his relatively young age, knew the meaning of hard work

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2
as in kid
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood rounded up the neighborhood youths and organized them into a softball team

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in childhood
the state or time of being a child told the young people to enjoy their youth while they could

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of youth Just two weeks earlier, Jakucionis was representing the Heat at their youth camp at Slam Miami. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2026 Malik grew up in Germany, representing it on youth national teams and dreaming of playing for Die Mannschaft at a World Cup one day. — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026 Tottenham’s awareness and interest in Fernandes dated back to his days in Sporting CP’s youth setup. — Mark Critchley, New York Times, 4 July 2026 Camps must also install an emergency warning system, including a public address system that operates without an internet connection, and each youth camp must maintain redundant internet connectivity. — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for youth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for youth
  1. boy
  2. kid
  3. childhood
  4. teenager
  5. child
  6. adolescent
Noun
  • The Nationals’ Youth Baseball Academy in Southeast, a staple since 2013, is a wonderful venue for both boys’ baseball teams in middle and high schools, and for girls’ softball teams.
    — David Aldridge, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • One boy, 12, succumbed to the heat and passed out, with EMS medics and police rushing to help him, according to PIX 11.
    — Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026
Definition of boy
Noun
  • Neither bride nor groom have kids from previous relationships out of wedlock.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Jake’s analysis found that the UK’s intervention may run all summer, with media plurality issues around news plus kids’ channels portfolios in the spotlight.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 3 July 2026
Definition of kid
Noun
  • Medical experts point out that the childhood vaccines at issue — hepatitis A, influenza and DTaP — are safe and effective for kids and recommended by various medical groups.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
  • My geekiest childhood hobby was stamp collecting, and Saarland once had its own postal service.
    — Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026
Definition of childhood
Noun
  • While teenagers have always looked to older peers for inspiration, social media has accelerated and amplified this process.
    — Sophie Lou Wilson, Vogue, 2 July 2026
  • Cotter’s colleagues and students follow the national team closely, while Premier League clubs are popular among teenagers.
    — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of teenager
Noun
  • Harry's decision comes amid an ongoing security fiasco concerning the safety of Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 5 July 2026
  • Would her child be buried in a separate part of the cemetery without the appropriate eulogies?
    — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of child
Noun
  • But for children and adolescents whose bodies and skeletons are still growing, specialized pediatric orthopedic care is critical.
    — JP Shaffer, Miami Herald, 22 June 2026
  • Despite being a high achiever, Veena Dinavahi struggled with anxiety and depression as an adolescent.
    — Rich Schapiro, NBC news, 20 June 2026
Definition of adolescent

Browse Nearby Words

young Turks
youth
youthful
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Cite this Entry

“Youth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/youth. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on youth

Nglish: Translation of youth for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about youth

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