reaching maturity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reaching maturity" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe the process of developing to a fully grown or advanced state, often in relation to people, ideas, or products. Example: "The startup is finally reaching maturity after several years of growth." Alternative expressions include "achieving maturity" and "attaining maturity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

This corresponds to individuals starting to mature at birth and continuing to mature relatively quickly or slowly through childhood until reaching maturity.

Archives of Disease in Childhood

Scorpions molt an average of five times (the range is four to nine) before reaching maturity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There is a pronounced metamorphosis (a major change in body plan on reaching maturity).

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is assumed that a child passes through all stages of development in reaching maturity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Some leaves and flowers lose anthocyanins on reaching maturity; others gain in pigment content during development.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Many mines here are reaching maturity and offering little opportunity for growth, making mining them more costly.

The New York Times

There is a fine line between its reaching maturity and its dispersing itself, so you need to be eagle-eyed.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It also shows the subtle but substantial effects of an organization reaching maturity, learning from catastrophe, adjusting to generational change.

The New York Times

These conifers are now reaching maturity and are ready to be cut down as a timber crop.

The Guardian

These unconventional ranchers, their cattle idling in pastures for two or more years before reaching maturity, elicit cocked eyebrows.

The New York Times

"Two minors may lawfully have vaginal intercourse, but they are felons if they have oral sex until reaching maturity".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In financial contexts, use this phrase to refer to the date on which the principal amount of a note, draft, acceptance bond or another debt instrument becomes due.

Common error

Avoid adding 'full' before maturity (e.g., 'reaching full maturity') unless you are specifically distinguishing it from partial maturity. Maturity itself implies a completed state of development. Additionally, do not confuse it with "reaching mature", which is grammatically incorrect because 'mature' is an adjective and requires a noun like 'state' or to be used as a verb.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reaching maturity" acts as a present participle phrase. It often functions as the object of a preposition (e.g., 'before reaching maturity') or as part of a progressive verb construction. According to Ludwig AI, it is most frequently used to denote the completion of a developmental stage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reaching maturity" is a versatile and essential English phrase that spans multiple disciplines. Whether used in biological research to describe an organism's development or in financial reports to discuss debt instruments, it remains a hallmark of clear and professional communication. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is highly authoritative and appears consistently in top-tier publications like The New York Times and The Economist. Writers should favor this expression over less precise alternatives like "getting old" when a formal or technical tone is required. Its structural simplicity and semantic depth make it an ideal choice for both scientific writing and economic analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieving maturity

Shifts focus to the successful attainment of a goal or state

maturing

A more concise verb form describing the ongoing process

becoming fully developed

More descriptive and clinical than the main query

attaining adulthood

Specific to human or animal biological development

reaching full growth

Focuses strictly on physical or biological size

approaching maturity

Describes being near the state but not yet having reached it

coming of age

More idiomatic and often refers to social or personal development

coming to fruition

Used for ideas or projects rather than biological organisms

reaching expiration

Specific to financial instruments or biological life cycles ending

hitting its stride

Metaphorical phrase for a business or person performing at peak

FAQs

What does "reaching maturity" mean in biology?

In biology, "reaching maturity" refers to the point at which an organism has finished its development and is usually capable of reproduction. You might also use "attaining adulthood" in similar contexts.

How do you use "reaching maturity" in a business sentence?

You can use it to describe a market that is no longer expanding rapidly. For example: "The smartphone industry is finally "reaching maturity" in developed nations."

Is it correct to say "reaching a maturity"?

No, you should generally omit the article. Use "reaching maturity" as an uncountable noun phrase. If you need a different nuance, try "achieving maturity".

What is the difference between "reaching maturity" and "coming of age"?

"Reaching maturity" is more clinical and biological, while "coming of age" usually refers to a person's legal or social transition to adulthood.