Old: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ‘ด
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old

 

[ ษ™สŠld ]

Adjective / Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adjective

age

Having lived or existed for a long time; not young or new.

Synonyms

aged, elderly, mature, senior.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
old

General term for something or someone that has existed for a long time.

  • This house is very old.
  • My old car finally broke down.
elderly

Used to respectfully describe older individuals, often those who might need extra care or consideration.

  • The elderly woman needed help crossing the street.
  • Elderly residents at the care home enjoy various activities.
aged

Often used to describe the state of being old, emphasizing the passage of time. It can be used for people, animals, or objects.

  • The aged professor shared stories from years ago.
  • The aged wine tasted exquisite.
senior

Commonly used to describe older adults, sometimes within the context of retirement or special status for older individuals. It can also refer to someone with a higher rank or position.

  • The senior members of the club receive discounts.
  • She is a senior partner at the law firm.
mature

Refers to someone who has grown up and is fully developed. Often used to describe behavior or mental development rather than physical age.

  • He is very mature for his age.
  • The garden has several mature trees.

Examples of usage

  • He was very old and feeble now
  • The old man lived alone in a small cottage
  • The building was so old that it needed renovation
Context #2 | Noun

time

A person or thing that has been around for a long time or that was common or popular in the past.

Synonyms

antique, artifact, relic.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
old

This word is used to describe something that has existed for a long time. It is a general term and can refer to people, objects, places, etc.

  • He wore an old coat
  • That old house needs some repairs
relic

This word is used to describe an object surviving from an earlier time, especially one that has historical or sentimental value. It can sometimes carry a slightly negative or outdated connotation.

  • The church preserves relics from the medieval period
  • Technology from the 1990s may seem like relics today
antique

This word refers to something that is very old and valuable, often a collectible item that has historical or aesthetic significance.

  • They bought an antique table for their living room
  • She has a collection of antique jewelry
artifact

This term is typically used in archaeology or history to describe an object made by humans in the past, often of cultural or historical interest.

  • The museum displayed ancient artifacts from the Roman Empire
  • Researchers found prehistoric artifacts in the cave

Examples of usage

  • The old of the town remembered the days when the factory had provided jobs for almost everyone
  • He's the same old, same old - never changes

Translations

Translations of the word "old" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น velho

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคชเฅเคฐเคพเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช alt

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ tua

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัั‚ะฐั€ะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ stary

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅคใ„

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท vieux

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ viejo

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท eski

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์˜ค๋ž˜๋œ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู‚ุฏูŠู…

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ starรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ starรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ—ง็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ star

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ gamall

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะตัะบั–

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒซแƒ•แƒ”แƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ kรถhnษ™

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ viejo

Etymology

The word 'old' has roots in Middle English and Old English, with similar forms in other Germanic languages. Its origins can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root 'h2el-' meaning 'to grow, nourish.' Over time, the word evolved to its current usage in English to describe age or antiquity. Throughout history, 'old' has been used to denote wisdom, experience, and the passage of time.

See also: olden, older, oldness.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #148, this word is extremely common in English. It's a crucial part of basic vocabulary that's used constantly in both spoken and written communication, making it essential for even basic conversations.