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Dated: meaning, definitions and examples

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dated

 

[ ˈdeɪtɪd ]

Adjective / Verb
Context #1 | Adjective

old-fashioned

No longer in style or current usage; out-of-date.

Synonyms

obsolete, old-fashioned, outdated.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
dated

Used to describe something that is no longer current or fashionable, but not necessarily in an extreme or negative sense. It suggests that the item or idea is from a previous era.

  • The decor in the house is a bit dated.
  • Her fashion sense is somewhat dated.
old-fashioned

Used to describe things that are from an earlier time and not in accordance with current trends. It can be used both positively, to describe something charmingly vintage, or negatively, to describe something out of step with modern times.

  • He has an old-fashioned sense of courtesy.
  • The rules are quite old-fashioned.
outdated

Indicates that something is not current with present standards or trends, often implying it's overdue for an update. It usually has a more negative connotation compared to 'dated'.

  • The software is outdated and needs to be upgraded.
  • Her ideas are outdated.
obsolete

Refers to something that is no longer in use, often because it has been replaced by something newer and better. It carries a stronger negative connotation than 'dated'.

  • Typewriters have become obsolete.
  • The company replaced its obsolete machinery.

Examples of usage

  • It's a dated concept that no longer applies to modern society.
  • Her outfit was very dated, with shoulder pads and neon colors.
Context #2 | Verb

establish the date of

To determine the age of something or establish the date of an event.

Synonyms

determine the age of, establish the date of, put a date on.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
dated

This term is used when something or someone looks old-fashioned or from the past. It often carries a slightly negative connotation.

  • The furniture in the office is quite dated.
  • Her clothing style seems dated for this era.
determine the age of

This phrase is typically used in a scientific or investigative context to figure out how old something is.

  • The archaeologists determined the age of the artifact to be over 2,000 years.
  • Experts are working to determine the age of the ancient manuscript.
establish the date of

Used in formal contexts, especially in research or historical analysis, to find out the specific date of an event or creation of an object.

  • The researchers worked tirelessly to establish the date of the ancient ruins.
  • It took years to establish the date of the historical documents.
put a date on

This is a more casual way to indicate assigning or figuring out the date of an object or event.

  • I can’t really put a date on when this tradition started.
  • It’s hard to put a date on that old photograph.

Examples of usage

  • The archaeologist dated the artifacts using carbon dating.
  • She dated the letter by looking at the postmark.

Translations

Translations of the word "dated" in other languages:

🇵🇹 datado

🇮🇳 पुराना

🇩🇪 datiert

🇮🇩 tertanggal

🇺🇦 застарілий

🇵🇱 przestarzały

🇯🇵 日付のある

🇫🇷 daté

🇪🇸 fechado

🇹🇷 tarihli

🇰🇷 날짜가 있는

🇸🇦 مؤرخ

🇨🇿 datovaný

🇸🇰 dátovaný

🇨🇳 有日期的

🇸🇮 datiran

🇮🇸 dagsett

🇰🇿 мерзімді

🇬🇪 თარიღიანი

🇦🇿 tarixli

🇲🇽 fechado

Etymology

The word 'dated' originated from the Middle English word 'daten', which means to sign or date a document. It evolved over time to refer to establishing the age or time of something. The adjective form came to mean old-fashioned or out-of-date in the early 20th century.

See also: antedated, backdate, dating, outdate, outdated, predate.

Word Frequency Rank

This word ranks #1,873, placing it within important intermediate vocabulary. Learning it will significantly improve your ability to express yourself in English.