Mature describes something or someone that has reached full development or acts with the wisdom and responsibility expected of an adult. When fruit is mature, it's ripe and ready to eat. When a person is mature, they think carefully before acting and handle difficult situations without falling apart.

A mature student doesn't throw a tantrum when they receive constructive criticism on an essay. Instead, they consider the feedback and use it to improve their writing. Mature friendships involve being honest even when it's uncomfortable, keeping promises, and forgiving mistakes.

The word also describes things that have developed fully over time. A mature forest has tall trees, rich soil, and a complex ecosystem that took decades or centuries to develop. A mature writing style shows sophistication that comes from years of practice.

People sometimes use mature to describe books, movies, or games intended for older audiences because they contain content that younger children might not understand or might find upsetting.

As a verb, mature means to develop fully over time. A plan can mature as you gather information and improve it, and a person can mature as they learn from experience.

You might hear someone say “act your age” to a child behaving immaturely, but true maturity requires more than just getting older. A twelve-year-old who thinks through problems carefully and treats others with consideration shows more maturity than an adult who blames everyone else for their mistakes. Maturity develops through experience, reflection, and making thoughtful choices, even when no one's watching.