premature

C2+ Topic:Time

US /ˌpriməˈtʊr/ UK /ˈprɛmətʃə/ See IPA manual

adj

Meanings

1

adj
happening or done before the proper or usual time

His premature celebration looked foolish once the final votes came in.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · happening or done before... early untimely precipitate hastyoverhastyprevious

Opposites

overdue belated timely mature

Word family

Derived forms prematurelyprematurityprematureness

Related forms mature maturity

Common collocations

Etymology

From Latin praematurus ('ripe too soon'), from prae- ('before') + maturus ('ripe, mature').

praematurus Latin maturus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Time

# premature

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ˌpriməˈtʊr
**IPA (UK):** ˈprɛmətʃə

## Meanings
1. happening or done before the proper or usual time

## Examples
- His premature celebration looked foolish once the final votes came in.

## Synonyms
- early
- untimely
- precipitate
- hasty
- overhasty
- previous

## Antonyms
- overdue
- belated
- timely
- mature

## Derived Forms
- prematurely
- prematurity
- prematureness

## Related Forms
- mature
- maturity

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: praematurus
- Root: maturus

## Etymology
From Latin praematurus ('ripe too soon'), from prae- ('before') + maturus ('ripe, mature').

## AI Etymology
Premature comes from Latin praematurus ('ripe too soon'), from prae- ('before') + maturus ('ripe, mature'). The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As an adjective, it carries the sense "happening or done before the proper or usual time", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin praematurus and Latin maturus. Derivative forms include prematurely, prematurity, prematureness; related words include mature, maturity.

## Topics
- Time

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premature

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