youngest
youngest — adjective
- youngestpositive
- more youngestcomparative
- most youngestsuperlative
1. being the person or thing in a group that has spent the least amount of time ali
being the person or thing in a group that has spent the least amount of time alive or in use; the superlative of 'young'.
The Itō family has three children; Takuya is the youngest at age seven.
Every morning my youngest sister packs her pink backpack and waits for the yellow school bus.
possessive + youngest + noun for family member
The science hall, completed in 2020, is the youngest building on a campus of century-old brick structures.
Elena was the youngest student ever to win the national chess competition.
The youngest member of the rescue team carried the heavy backpack without complaint.
- most junior
used for rank or position rather than age
- least experienced
focuses on skill level or time served, not age directly
- oldest
opposite superlative; having lived or existed for the longest time
- most senior
opposite of 'most junior'; highest in rank
文法句型
the youngest + noun
possessive + youngest + noun
用法筆記
Usually preceded by 'the' or a possessive determiner ('my', 'her', 'their') in its superlative role. Cannot stand alone without a comparison group — the group must be clear from context.
常見錯誤
2. placed after a person's full name to distinguish them from an older relative (es
placed after a person's full name to distinguish them from an older relative (especially a parent) who shares the same name.
Martin Luther King the youngest was named after his father but became far more famous.
name + the youngest for historical figures
The wedding invitation was addressed to Mr. Chen Wei the youngest, sent through his father's office.
name + the youngest for formal address
John Wright the youngest now runs the family farm after his father retired.
In the church records, he is listed as Thomas Park the youngest to avoid confusion.
- junior
more common in American English; abbreviated as 'Jr.'
- the elder
used for the older person in a same-name pair; opposite of 'the youngest'
文法句型
[Name] the youngest
用法筆記
This is a formal construction, often found in written documents, historical records, or family genealogies. In everyday conversation people simply say 'junior' or use a nickname.
常見錯誤
3. created or intended for people of a young age rather than for adults; used about
created or intended for people of a young age rather than for adults; used about products, media, or activities aimed at a young audience, not about the age of a living thing.
The bookstore moved its youngest titles to a special reading corner with small chairs.
Owen bought a puzzle from the store's youngest range, which was labeled for children ages three and up.
This clothing brand designs its youngest line for children from three to eight years old.
Hassan bought tickets for the theater's youngest show, a puppet performance recommended for ages two to five.
- most child-friendly
focuses on suitability and safety for children
- most junior
can also mean suitable for the lowest age group in a product line
文法句型
the youngest + noun (of clothing, media, activities)
4. appearing to be less old than other members of a group; having features or style
appearing to be less old than other members of a group; having features or style that make one seem more youthful than others.
At their high school reunion, Dr. Kwame looked the youngest of all the former students.
look the youngest + in a group
Regular exercise and plenty of sleep help Yuna look the youngest in her dance troupe.
With her ponytail and plain T-shirt, Anong looked the youngest among the visiting teachers.
People often tell Noor that she looks the youngest of her three older sisters.
- most youthful
slightly more formal; emphasizes vitality and freshness
- least aged
more clinical or formal tone
- oldest-looking
appearing the most aged in a group
文法句型
look the youngest
appear the youngest
用法筆記
Used only as a predicate adjective after linking verbs like 'look', 'appear', or 'seem'. Does not appear before a noun — you cannot say 'the youngest-looking person' in this sense.
youngest — noun
1. the person in a family, group, or organization who has lived for the shortest am
the person in a family, group, or organization who has lived for the shortest amount of time; the member who is least old.
As the youngest of five children, Fatima learned to negotiate for attention early.
the youngest of + number + noun
At the weekend workshop, the teacher picked the youngest to hand out worksheets before the lesson.
In a mixed-age class, the youngest often need extra help with reading.
Diego became the captain of the team even though he was the youngest.
The youngest in the family usually gets hand-me-down clothes from the older siblings.
- youngest child
more explicit; specifies the family role
- youngest member
used for groups, teams, or organizations
- baby of the family
informal; affectionate term for the youngest sibling
文法句型
the youngest (of + group)
possessive + youngest
用法筆記
When referring to a specific person, 'the youngest' can be used alone without repeating the noun — the context makes the reference clear. 'My youngest' commonly refers to the youngest child in a family.
常見錯誤
2. the least developed or most recently born creatures among a set of animal offspr
the least developed or most recently born creatures among a set of animal offspring.
The mother cat carried her youngest to a safer corner of the shed.
possessive + youngest for animal offspring
The farmer bottle-fed the goat's youngest because the mother goat did not have enough milk for all her kids.
Among the five puppies, the youngest was too small to reach the food bowl.
The eagle watched over her nest, keeping her youngest sheltered from the cold wind.
文法句型
possessive + youngest