Words / C1

PREM-uh-ch-uh/ˈpremətʃə/

Premature means too early — before the right or ready time: a premature announcement, premature conclusions. Early is everyday and not always a fault; timely is the good twin. Do not issue a press note before the embargo and call it keen.

Meaning

Happening too soon, before the right or ready time.

Examples

• “A premature press note before the embargo is still a leak.”
• “Early can be neutral. Hasty is about speed of thought. Mature (already in the dictionary) sits in the opposite family. A baby born premature is the medical sense. Keenness does not lift an embargo.”

Good to know

Too early. Everyday: early (not always bad). Opposite flavour: timely / mature. A leak is not keen communications.

Near in meaning

early

New