Young means in an early stage of life or existence. A young child is still growing and learning about the world. Young trees have thin trunks and haven't yet reached their full height. A young company just started and hasn't been in business very long.

When we call someone young, we're usually talking about children, teenagers, or people in their twenties, though the meaning shifts depending on context. To a kindergartner, a fifth grader seems quite grown up. To a grandmother, someone in their forties might still seem young.

The word carries a sense of newness and potential. Young people have most of their lives ahead of them. Young animals are still developing their adult characteristics. A young friendship is just beginning, still figuring out its rhythms and patterns.

Young can also describe something that seems fresh or inexperienced, like when someone says “the night is young” to mean there's still plenty of time for activities. Scientists might study young stars that formed recently (though “recently” in cosmic terms might mean millions of years ago). Being young often means having energy and possibility, though it can also mean lacking experience. The opposite of young is old, though many related words exist: youthful emphasizes the positive qualities of being young, while immature suggests someone hasn't developed the wisdom or responsibility expected for their age.