premature C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˌpriməˈtʊr/ UK /ˈprɛmətʃə/ See IPA manual 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... earlyuntimelyprecipitatehastyoverhastyprevious ↔ Opposites overduebelatedtimelymature Word family Derived forms prematurelyprematurityprematureness Related forms maturematurity Appears in Phrases (3) See all premature baby a baby born before the full term of pregnancy Adjective + noun premature death death that occurs earlier than would normally be expected, especially from preventable causes Adjective + noun premature ejaculation ejaculation that occurs sooner than desired during sexual activity Adjective + noun Etymology AI details From Latin praematurus ('ripe too soon'), from prae- ('before') + maturus ('ripe, mature'). praematurus Latin maturus Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Describing Qualities External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # 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 - Describing Qualities markdown