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precocious

/pɹəˈkəʊʃəs/adjective

Developing skills, interests, or maturity much earlier than is usual for a child.

Example sentences

  • “Their precocious son was solving math puzzles before he started school.”
  • “The precocious eight-year-old asked the speaker a sharp question about taxes.”
  • “She was a precocious reader who finished Harry Potter at age six.”

Nearly always said of children, and not always kindly: it can hint that the child is a little too adult. A 'precocious talent' is a young person with skills far beyond their age.

Featured as word of the day on February 2, 2026.

Synonyms for precocious

  • advanced

Antonyms

  • late-blooming

Often confused with precocious

precocious vs precious

Find it in: Advanced English words, Words to describe a person.

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