premature

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "premature" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has happened too soon or something that should have been further developed or completed before it was made available. For example, "The software launch was a bit premature; several of the features were still incomplete."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is deeply disappointing that UWA has lost this opportunity because of toxic politics, ad hominen attacks, and premature judgment.

The Guardian

The basics are right: Travers was born Helen Lyndon Goff and called Ginty by her family; her father, Travers Goff (Colin Farrell), was a heavy drinker and a fantasist; she never got over his premature death and romanticised his brief, hapless life (and took his first name as her surname).

The Guardian - Film

While Farah's 2014 campaign continues to improve, Usain Bolt's injury-plagued season has come to a premature end, with the Jamaican sprinter pulling out of the Diamond League meeting in Zurich on Thursday.

The Guardian - Sport

A premature death guarantees teary-eyed obituaries, friendly missives from long-standing rivals and nostalgic reviews of your final projects.

The Guardian - Arts

A teenage girl's child is more likely to be premature and less likely to survive than if the mother is in her 20s, states Unicef.

The Guardian

It is the third commonest cause of premature death in the UK.

The Guardian

The on-loan Bolton forward spotted Murphy off his line and lofted the ball home supremely from long range to spark a premature mini pitch invasion, which was followed by a much bigger one on the final whistle.

The Guardian - Sport

When I first heard the Oscar talk I thought it was premature.

The Guardian - Film

But experts warned against any premature declaration of victory, with the militants still proving capable of carrying out deadly hit-and-run strikes and indications of coalition lapses.

The Guardian

His boss, Jeremy Hunt, announced ambitions to reduce premature mortality from cancer, heart disease, stroke and respiratory and liver diseases in 2013.

The Guardian

Asked about weekend reports of an end to donor anonymity, one health official told Guardian Unlimited: "this is a unfortunate case of premature speculation".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "premature", consider the specific nuance you want to convey: Is it simply early, or is it inappropriately early? This will help you choose the most fitting synonym or alternative phrasing.

Common error

While "premature" is generally acceptable, overuse in formal writing can make your tone seem overly critical. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "early" or "initial" depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "premature" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that something has occurred or developed earlier than expected or desired. Ludwig AI's examples highlight its use across various contexts, confirming its role in describing timing and readiness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

28%

Science

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "premature" is used to describe something happening before the expected or appropriate time. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across diverse writing styles. It is particularly common in "News & Media", "Formal & Business", and "Science" contexts, with alternative phrases like "untimely" or "too soon" offering nuanced substitutes. When incorporating "premature" in your writing, consider whether you could opt for more neutral alternatives like “early” or “initial”, to prevent overuse in formal contexts. The term’s frequent usage underscores its importance in effectively conveying timing and readiness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

untimely

Indicates an event happening at an unfortunate or unsuitable time.

early

A general term for something happening before the expected time.

too soon

Emphasizes that something is happening before the appropriate time.

overhasty

Highlights the rushed nature of an action.

precipitous

Implies a rush that is potentially dangerous or ill-advised.

hasty

Similar to 'overhasty', but can also mean quick or speedy.

before its time

Indicates something that is advanced or ahead of the current era.

previous

Refers to something that occurred before another event or time.

previous to

Emphasizes the temporal order of events.

ahead of schedule

Highlights being in advance of the set timeline.

FAQs

How to use "premature" in a sentence?

"Premature" describes something happening, arriving, or being done too early. For example, "The celebration was "premature" because the final results weren't in yet."

What can I say instead of "premature"?

You can use alternatives like "untimely", "early", or "too soon" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "premature" or "immature"?

"Premature" refers to something happening before its time, while "immature" refers to a lack of development or maturity. The correct word depends on the specific meaning you want to convey.

What's the difference between "premature" and "early"?

"Early" simply means before the expected time. "Premature" carries a connotation of being inappropriately or disadvantageously early. The decision to label something as "premature" implies a negative consequence or assessment.