Preteen, tween, and adolescent are all synonyms for the term "more preadult." These words describe children who are on the verge of entering adulthood but have not quite reached that phase of life yet. Preteen specifically refers to children between the ages of 9 and 12, while tween refers to those between the ages of 11 and 14. Finally, adolescent refers to individuals between the ages of 13 and 18. All of these words are useful descriptors for anyone in the process of transitioning from childhood to adulthood. They capture that in-between stage where a young person is still figuring out who they are and who they want to become.