age 1 of 2

1
as in era
an extent of time associated with a particular person or thing the Bronze Age marks the beginning of the use of metal by ancient peoples

Synonyms & Similar Words

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age

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun age differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of age are epoch, era, and period. While all these words mean "a division of time," age is used frequently of a fairly definite period dominated by a prominent figure or feature.

the age of Samuel Johnson

When is it sensible to use epoch instead of age?

The words epoch and age are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, epoch applies to a period begun or set off by some significant or striking quality, change, or series of events.

the steam engine marked a new epoch in industry

When can era be used instead of age?

In some situations, the words era and age are roughly equivalent. However, era suggests a period of history marked by a new or distinct order of things.

the era of global communications

When might period be a better fit than age?

While the synonyms period and age are close in meaning, period may designate an extent of time of any length.

periods of economic prosperity

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of age
Noun
The Uncle Buck and Planes, Trains & Automobiles star died of a heart attack at age 43 in 1994. Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025 The film revealed that when his pal John Belushi died of a drug overdose in 1982 at age 33, Candy was visibly shaken and frightened. Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
Moving Waukesha East and Waukesha Transition Academy, which helps special education students ages 18-21, to Lowell Elementary School. Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 10 Oct. 2025 In the new study, an international research team measured levels of pTau217 in blood samples from two groups of healthy newborns and compared them with levels found in teenagers, adults aged 18 to 25 and seniors aged 70 to 77. Robert Martone, Scientific American, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for age
Recent Examples of Synonyms for age
Noun
  • By the end, the old Wembley was best viewed from a distance — ideally 15 or 20 years’ distance as the crumbling concrete and antiquated facilities meant the Empire Stadium belonged in the same bygone era as its official name.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Turnover among educators in Wisconsin public schools has declined from pandemic-era highs but remains elevated, according to a new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum.
    Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Is this the twilight of the breakups?
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
  • China has conducted a noticeable twilight missile test aimed at signaling rather than keeping it secret.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But the unknown will be whether teams trust his maturity.
    Dane Brugler, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Defenders tend to see it as a reflection of the Sandinistas’ values and political maturity.
    Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Athenians have been legume lovers since antiquity, and beans and pulses remain a fixture on meze menus the city over as a healthier, more affordable alternative to meat.
    Katherine Whittaker, Saveur, 9 Oct. 2025
  • It was made of gold and strung with beads made of lapis lazuli, a blue stone prized in antiquity.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Over the years, the couple gave parcels of the land away for churches, schools and hospitals for the community to grow.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Lawson-Remer cited the connection between education and clinical practice, and the ability to keep working while learning, as the key factors in making progress in the larger goal of significantly growing the local mental health care workforce.
    Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Hanke recommends allowing the peso to float for around 60 days, enabling market forces to determine its actual worth in terms of dollars.
    Shawn Tully, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
  • In cases of a head coach change, student-athletes will have a 15-day consecutive window beginning five days after a new coach is hired or announced.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • One way to mess with an option team’s Plan A is to not only stick them with third-and-forevers, but to put them in an early hole, making them throw out of desperation.
    Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2019
  • Printed with thermochromic ink, the stamp reveals a second image of the moon when a finger is pressed to it, and a sheet of 16 Forever stamps features a map of the eclipse path.
    Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2017
Noun
  • Williams — joined by family members, current and past KU coaches, players and support staff — on Tuesday afternoon cut the ribbon on the room that bears his name.
    Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2025
  • In the afternoon, the reenactors staged the Battle of Bunker Hill all over again, for the Sunday crowd.
    Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Age.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/age. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.

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