entering adulthood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "entering adulthood" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe the transition from adolescence to being an adult, often in discussions about personal development or life stages. For example: "Many young people face challenges when entering adulthood." Alternative expressions include "reaching adulthood" and "transitioning to adulthood."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Those born after Columbine are just entering adulthood.

The Washington Post

Peeler's 18-year-old niece, QuenCelle, is entering adulthood just as the entitlement age ends.

The Washington Post

At seventeen they're just beginning the painful process of entering adulthood and trying on adult roles.

The New Yorker

We were young people entering the world — entering adulthood — and it was thrilling.

The New Yorker

"Children will be entering adulthood heavier than they've ever been at any time in human history.

The New York Times

They estimated the Anthropocene, if real, would have begun between 1945 and 1964, when Attenborough would have been entering adulthood.

The Washington Post

Ms. Skladmann hopes to revisit the little adults in 10 years, when they really are entering adulthood.

The New York Times

In 15 years, the cost of care just for the autistic children entering adulthood over that time will be about equal to the current state budget of Tennessee.

The Washington Post

It was ever thus, of course: awkward teenagers entering adulthood, convinced that they know better than the stupid old grownups who control their world.

The Guardian - Opinion

He calls them the "millennials," the generation entering adulthood in the year 2000 with an expectation of peace and prosperity and a boundless belief in the private marketplace.

The New York Times - Books

Her research examines how entering adulthood in a recession influences later attitudes and behaviors as well as how current economic conditions affect interpersonal interactions, social support, and cooperation.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

This phrase is particularly effective in sociological or psychological contexts to denote the threshold of the 'emerging adulthood' life stage.

Common error

Avoid adding the preposition 'into' after 'entering' unless you are emphasizing a deep immersion into a specific environment. While 'entering into' is common in legal language (e.g. entering into a contract), "entering adulthood" is cleaner and more standard for life transitions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "entering adulthood" functions as a gerund phrase or a participial phrase depending on its placement. In many Ludwig examples, it acts as the object of a preposition (e.g. "on "entering adulthood"") or as part of a progressive verb construction. It combines the action of crossing a threshold with the target state of being an adult.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "entering adulthood" is a robust and versatile phrase used to describe the critical transition from youth to maturity. Data from Ludwig shows that it is exceptionally common in high-tier journalism and scientific literature, where it serves to highlight the socio-economic and psychological hurdles faced by young people. Whether you are writing an academic paper on developmental psychology or a news article about the economy, "entering adulthood" is a precise choice. It is most frequently found in contexts concerning health, financial independence and social policy. Using alternatives like "transitioning to adulthood" can offer more nuance for process-oriented writing, but the core phrase remains a gold standard for clarity and professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

transitioning to adulthood

emphasizes the ongoing process rather than the single point of entry

reaching adulthood

implies achieving a specific destination or milestone

becoming an adult

uses a simpler verb structure focusing on the state of being

stepping into adulthood

adds a slight metaphorical tone of active movement

entering the adult world

broadens the scope to include social and professional environments

reaching maturity

shifts the focus toward biological or psychological development

embarking on adulthood

suggests the beginning of a significant journey

coming of age

carries a more literary or idiomatic connotation often tied to cultural rituals

starting adult life

focuses on the practical daily reality of being an adult

attaining legal age

strictly focuses on the legal and chronological definition of being 18 or 21

FAQs

How do I use "entering adulthood" in a sentence?

You can use it as a subject or an object to describe a life stage, for example: "Many young people face financial hurdles when "entering adulthood"."

What is a more formal way to say "entering adulthood"?

For academic or professional writing, you might prefer "transitioning to adulthood" or "reaching maturity".

Is "entering adulthood" correct in a scientific context?

Yes, as shown in Ludwig, it is frequently used in scientific journals such as 'BMJ Open' and 'BMC Psychiatry' to discuss developmental health and social outcomes.

What's the difference between "entering adulthood" and "coming of age"?

While "entering adulthood" is neutral and developmental, "coming of age" is often used in literature and film to describe the emotional or moral growth of a protagonist.