February 2, 2026
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.