Nascent
/ˈnæsənt/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Nascent means something is new and starting to grow or develop. It is often used to talk about ideas, businesses, or processes that are in their early stages and not fully developed yet. It shows the beginning phase of something important.
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See It in Action
Just beginning to exist or develop
- •The nascent technology shows great promise but needs more testing.
- •A nascent company often faces many challenges in its first year.
- •The artist’s nascent talent was clear even in early sketches.
Early stage of growth or formation (used in science, business, ideas)
- •The nascent industry is attracting many new investors.
- •Scientists study nascent stars to understand how they form.
- •The nascent movement gained support quickly among young people.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "nascent" like "new," but for things that are just starting to grow or develop, not just recently made
- ✓Picture a small baby plant just coming out of the soil, very young and not yet big or strong
- ✓It’s the feeling of excitement when you start a new project or idea that could grow into something big
- ✓Sounds like "NASS-ent" → imagine a small nest where baby birds are just starting to hatch and grow
- ✓In stories, think of the first light of dawn, when the day is just beginning and full of possibilities
- ✓NOT like "mature" (fully grown or developed), nascent is the early, fragile stage
- ✓NOT like "finished" or "complete," nascent means still forming and changing
- ✓NOT like "old" or "established," nascent is brand new and fresh
Try Other Words
- •Emerging: starting to appear or become known (Use when something is becoming visible or important but not fully developed)
- •Developing: growing or changing gradually (Use when something is in the process of growth but not yet complete)
- •Incipient: just beginning (Use in formal contexts similar to nascent, often for ideas or feelings)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: from Latin "nasci" meaning "to be born" + suffix "-ent" meaning "having the quality of"
- •Etymology: comes from Latin "nascens," present participle of "nasci" (to be born)
- •Historical development: first used in English in the 17th century to describe things that are beginning to exist or be born
- •Modern usage: used in science, business, and literature to describe early stages of growth or development
- •Key insight: connected to birth or beginning, emphasizing the very start of something new
Reflect & Connect
•What kinds of things in your life could be described as nascent right now? How do you feel about their potential?
•How does knowing the word "nascent" help you understand stories or news about new ideas or businesses?
Fill in the blanks
1.The ___ company showed promise but still needed more time to grow and ___ its full potential.
2.When an idea is ___, it often requires a lot of attention and care to develop.
3.Unlike a mature business, a ___ business is small and still learning how to operate.
4.The scientist studied the ___ stars to learn how they form and ___ into full stars.
5.The ___ stage of a project is exciting but can also be full of ___ and uncertainty.
6.Many investors look for ___ industries because they expect them to become ___ in the future.
7.A ___ talent may not be perfect yet but shows signs of great ability to ___.