comes of age
Becomes legally adult
Comes of age means reaches maturity or full development.
A person comes of age upon reaching adulthood, whether legally or through formative experience: She came of age during the Depression.
The phrase extends to things that achieve their mature form: The technology finally came of age in the 1990s.
A coming-of-age story follows a young person's transition to adulthood.
Formal event marking occasions
- initiationFormal admission ceremony
- rite of passageTransition-marking ceremony
- bar mitzvahJewish adulthood ceremony
- bat mitzvahFemale Jewish adulthood rite
quinceañera · sweet sixteen · debutante ball · confirmation · vision quest · walkabout · graduation · tradition
Full growth achieved
- independenceFreedom from external control
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
autonomy · consent · full-fledged · grown-up · adult · majority · license · passport
Process of becoming complete
- pubertySexual development stage
- adolescenceTeenage developmental stage
- growing upDeveloping into adulthood
- blossomingBeginning to flower
transformation · evolution · ripening · progression · metamorphosis · transition · self-awareness · experience
Notable event marking progress
- achievementAccomplished goal or deed
- graduationCompleting academic requirements formally
- commencementAct of starting
- cap and gownCeremonial graduation attire
diploma · recognition · party · festivities · ball · debut · reception · announcement
Fiction of psychological maturation
- novelNew and unusual
- filmMovie or coating
- self-discoveryLearning one's true character
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
identity · protagonist · memoir · story · journey · innocence lost · disillusionment · first love
ceremony
Formal event marking occasions
- initiationFormal admission ceremony
- rite of passageTransition-marking ceremony
- bar mitzvahJewish adulthood ceremony
bat mitzvah · quinceañera · sweet sixteen · debutante ball · confirmation · vision quest · walkabout · graduation · tradition · sacrament
maturity
Full growth achieved
- independenceFreedom from external control
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
self-sufficiency · autonomy · consent · full-fledged · grown-up · adult · majority · license · passport · rights
maturation
Process of becoming complete
- pubertySexual development stage
- adolescenceTeenage developmental stage
- growing upDeveloping into adulthood
blossoming · transformation · evolution · ripening · progression · metamorphosis · transition · self-awareness · experience · wisdom
milestone
Notable event marking progress
- achievementAccomplished goal or deed
- graduationCompleting academic requirements formally
- commencementAct of starting
cap and gown · diploma · recognition · party · festivities · ball · debut · reception · announcement · gifts
bildungsroman
Fiction of psychological maturation
- novelNew and unusual
- filmMovie or coating
- self-discoveryLearning one's true character
awakening · identity · protagonist · memoir · story · journey · innocence lost · disillusionment · first love · formative years
comes of agearrested development
Halted progression before completion
regresses · infantilizes · Peter Pan syndrome · stunted growth
comes of agefalls from grace
Suffers sudden disgrace
declines · deteriorates · stagnates · fades away · withers