boyish

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈbɔɪ.ɪʃ/ See IPA manual

Freq #31852

Meanings

1

adj
befitting or characteristic of a young boy

A boyish grin.
2

adj
Like a stereotypical boy in appearance or demeanor.

People disliked his boyish and juvenile behaviour.
3

adj
Relating to a boy, or occurring in boyhood.

For Memnon […] fought hand to hand with his overmatch, and met his boyish and most dolorous death beneath the walls of Troy.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · befitting or characteristic... boylike

Word family

Forms boyishly

Derived forms boyishlyboyishnesstomboyishunboyish

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

boyish grin
a wide smile with the youthful playfulness associated with a boy

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From boy + -ish.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

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