Entry Word: ancient

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 dating or surviving from the distant past <Romeʼs ancient ruins are carefully preserved in the midst of the bustle of the modern city>

Synonyms aged, age-old, antediluvian, antique, dateless, hoar, hoary, old, venerable

Related Words aging, mature; antiquated, obsolete, outmoded, out-of-date, passé; old-fashioned, old-time, old-world; durable, enduring, lasting, long-lived, permanent; ageless, hallowed, time-honored, timeless, time-tested, traditional, tried, tried-and-true; classic, classical; prehistoric, primeval, primordial

Near Antonyms fresh, young, youthful; contemporary, current, latest, mod, novel, present-day, ultramodern; untested, untried; brand-new, unused, unworn

Antonyms modern, new, recent

2 being of advanced years and especially past middle age <used to think that age 40 was ancient until my mom turned 40> — see elderly
3 relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period <the ancient Inca built a vast network of roads> — see early 1