come of age

phrase

: to reach maturity
Your class has come of age at a moment of great consequence for our nation and for the world …—Barack Obama

Examples of come of age in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
George Joseph came of age during the Great Depression, a calamity that left with him with a stated desire to always have plenty of work to do. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Sincerity and audacity are not opposing forces but complementary ones in this space, and for writers, retro programmers, and other film fans who came of age after midnight at the movies, Curry’s impact persists as its own kind of religion. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026 View this post on Instagram Ashlee Simpson Simpson and Panettiere came of age in the same era of aughts Hollywood. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2026 As many creators have recently told Deadline, coming of age takes place across one’s lifetime. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for come of age

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of come of age was in the 15th century

Rhymes for come of age

See All Rhymes for come of age

Browse Nearby Words

come-o'-will
come of age
come off
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Come of age.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come%20of%20age. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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