coming of age
noun phraseUK /ˌkʌmɪŋ əv ˈeɪdʒ/
US /ˌkʌmɪŋ əv ˈeɪdʒ/
The time when a young person grows up and becomes an adult.
Her coming of age was celebrated with a big family party.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A genre of stories about a young person growing up.
The novel is a classic coming-of-age story about a boy's first summer away from home.
3. The moment when something becomes fully developed or successful.
The invention's coming of age came when factories began using it everywhere.
4. A ceremony that marks a child's entry into adulthood.
The tribe holds a coming-of-age ceremony for every teenager.