precocious
- 1Developing or happening unusually early, especially showing abilities or maturity at a younger age than usual.
A precocious talent, she published her first poems at fourteen.
Precocious readers often get bored in classes pitched at their age group.
UsageOften said fondly but a little wryly of children: a precocious seven-year-old, a precocious talent.
Oppositeslow, underdeveloped
Note
Usually the early ripening is a matter of skill, and the usual subjects are children and young talents: a child reading the newspaper at four, a poet in print at fourteen. The praise is often affectionate but a little wry, which is the joke in the Sherman Brothers' song in Disney's 1964 film Mary Poppins, where Mary promises that saying a nonsense word loudly enough will make you sound precocious.
Checked 3 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
- Mary Poppins is a Disney film released in 1964. en.wikipedia.org
- The Sherman Brothers wrote the song referred to, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” en.wikipedia.org
- Mary uses a nonsense word, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” en.wikipedia.org
- Mary's song says that saying the word loudly enough will make you sound precocious. youtu.be
- 2Bold or self-assured beyond what suits one's age or standing, in a cheeky, forward, or cocky way.
A precocious intern on his second day was already telling the partners how to run the firm.
She played the precocious niece who interrupts every dinner with smart remarks.
Similarcheeky, cocky, brash, forward
Note
Here the word turns disapproving: the young person or newcomer is not admired for early gifts but criticized for speaking out of turn. It sits close to cheeky and forward, with the added charge of being too young or too junior for such confidence. The same adjective praises in the "gifted child" meaning, so tone and context decide which one is meant.
Practice
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Origin
Latin prae ("before") and coquō ("to cook, boil, ripen") combined in praecoquō ("to ripen beforehand"), which gave praecox ("premature, ripe before time"), the source of this word. Apricot is a doublet.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 7 facts
- Latin prae means “before”. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin coquō means “to cook, boil, ripen”. en.wiktionary.org
- Praecoquō was formed from prae and coquō. en.wiktionary.org
- Praecoquō means “to ripen beforehand”. en.wiktionary.org
- Praecox derives from praecoquō and means “premature, ripe before time”. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin praecox is the source of precocious. en.wiktionary.org
- Apricot and precocious are etymological doublets. en.wiktionary.org