age

noun \ ˈāj \

Definition of age

1 a :the time of life at which some particular qualification, power, or capacity arises or rests

the voting age is 18

; specifically :majority

b :one of the stages of life

c :the length of an existence extending from the beginning to any given time

a boy 10 years of age

d :lifetime

e :an advanced stage of life

2 :a period of time dominated by a central figure or prominent feature

the age of Pericles

: such as

a :a period in history or human progress

the age of reptiles

the age of exploration

b :a cultural period marked by the prominence of a particular item

entering the atomic age

c :a division of geologic time that is usually shorter than an epoch

3 a :the period contemporary with a person's lifetime or with his or her active life

b :a long time —usually used in plural

haven't seen him in ages

c :generation

4 :an individual's development measured in terms of the years requisite for like development of an average individual

See age defined for English-language learners

See age defined for kids

Examples of age in a Sentence

Some people are reluctant to reveal their ages.
She died tragically at a young age.
The treatment depends on the sex and age of the patient.
She died at the ripe old age of 90.
The movie appeals to people of all ages.
Their son needs to spend more time with children his own age.
a group of children ranging in age from 8 to 11
She became involved with a man twice her age.
The program is for people over age 50.
groups of people classified by race and age

Recent Examples of age from the Web

Eighty percent of school-age children in Zaatari are registered in camp schools, said Catherine Philippe, the U.N. protection officer for Zaatari.

— Washington Post, "Syrians adapt to exile in Jordan’s 5-year-old Zaatari camp," 31 Aug. 2017
One thing Casanova had learned at a very young age from his theatrical family was that the audience preferred dazzle to truth.

— gaile robinson, star-telegram, "Kimbell’s ‘Casanova’ follows the seducer’s trail through Europe – adult-only art and all," 30 Aug. 2017
Age can also make the tissues softer and the muscles that control them slacker; being overweight also tends to make snoring worse.

— atossa araxia abrahamian, The Cut, "Snoring Is an Annoyance Worth Taking More Seriously," 30 Aug. 2017
Turing’s reputation has grown exponentially during the computer age, but biographical information has not.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "New Letters Show Alan Turing Wasn’t a Fan of the U.S.A.," 30 Aug. 2017
Hopefully the age-inclusivity will remain even after this collection.

— kate friedman, Glamour, "Zara's Website Now Features Models Over the Age of 40," 30 Aug. 2017
The Cornell Art Museum at Old School Square kicks off an exhibit of works by more than 100 young artists, ages 7-14, who attended the Palm Beach State College summer youth art classes.

— jennifer jhon, South Florida Parenting, "What to do with the kids this weekend: Free zoo, bowling and crafts events," 30 Aug. 2017
In a recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health, researchers analyzed the insurance policies of 1,355 female rape survivors between the ages of 16 and 61.

— marissa miller, Teen Vogue, "Hospitals Are Charging Sexual Assault Survivors With Exorbitant Hospital Fees," 29 Aug. 2017
Both races are chip timed and overall and age category winners will be announced after the race.

— michelle mullins, Naperville Sun, "This Week in Naperville," 29 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'age.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of age

Middle English, from Anglo-French aage, age, from Vulgar Latin *aetaticum, from Latin aetat-, aetas, from aevum lifetime — more at aye

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

age Synonyms

Synonyms

day, epoch, era, period, time

Antonyms

springtime

Related Words

cycle, generation, year; bit, space, span, spell, stretch, while; date, vintage

Near Antonyms

flash, instant, jiffy, minute, moment, second, shake, split second, trice, twinkle, twinkling, wink; microsecond, nanosecond

Synonym Discussion of age

period, epoch, era, age mean a division of time. period may designate an extent of time of any length.

- periods of economic prosperity

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

era suggests a period of history marked by a new or distinct order of things.

- the era of global communications

age is used frequently of a fairly definite period dominated by a prominent figure or feature.

- the age of Samuel Johnson

age

verb

Definition of age

aged; aging or ageing

intransitive verb

1 :to become old :show the effects or the characteristics of increasing age

2 :to acquire a desirable quality (such as mellowness or ripeness) by standing undisturbed for some time

letting cheese age

transitive verb

1 :to cause to become old

2 :to bring to a state fit for use or to maturity

—

ager

play \ˈā-jər\ noun

See age defined for English-language learners

Examples of age in a Sentence

As he aged he grew more and more bitter.
You haven't aged a day since I saw you last!
His troubles have aged him.
Exposure to the sun has aged her skin.
The wine ages in oak barrels.
The wine is aged in oak barrels.

Recent Examples of age from the Web

Plans to replace aging computers and develop a technology replacement plan are underway in the Glendale Unified School District.

— priscella vega, Glendale News-Press, "Glendale school officials hear plans to replace and maintain aging technology," 29 Aug. 2017
Santat’s new picture book is for children ages 4 through 8 and teaches how to triumph over fear and trauma.

— jeanne houck, Cincinnati.com, "Acclaimed children's book author coming to Oakley," 29 Aug. 2017
Using science to explain the differences between groups of people is a look that has never aged well.

— kat stoeffel, The Cut, "What I Got Wrong About Misogyny," 24 Aug. 2017
Beyond their aging skin, hair is another focus of patients in the office of dermatologist Dr. Terrence Keaney.

— kaitlin menza, Town & Country, "Is Trump the Driving Force Behind D.C.'s Plastic Surgery Boom?," 23 Aug. 2017
According to a 2014 survey conducted by Piper Jaffray, Facebook use among teenagers ages 13 to 19 dropped from 72 percent to 45 percent.

— maya kosoff, The Hive, "Facebook Is Facing a Demographic Time Bomb," 22 Aug. 2017
SHOP: Self-tanning hydrating facial skin-care ($145) by Sisley-Paris, mrporter.com For Puffy Eyes Nothing will age your face as much as puffy, baggy eyes.

— esquire editors, Esquire, "6 Moisturizers to Help Your Face Look Its Best," 21 Aug. 2017
The number of American adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than tripled in the past 20 years as the population has aged and gained weight.

— tetona dunlap, idahostatesman, "One Idahoan with Type 2 diabetes turns to exercise, another to chicken-fried steak," 19 Aug. 2017
Tickets to the festival cost about $29 (£22.50) for adults and $13 (£10) for children ages 10 to 16.

— cailey rizzo, Smithsonian, "Visit the Real-Life Winterfell Castle for a ‘Game of Thrones’ Festival," 18 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of age

15th century

age Synonyms

Synonyms

mature, develop, grow, grow up, progress, ripen

Related Words

mellow, soften; bloom, blossom, burgeon (also bourgeon), flourish, flower; open, unfold; advance, evolve; get along, get on, gray (also grey)

Near Antonyms

decay, decline, degenerate, deteriorate, sink, worsen; droop, dry, fade, flag, sag, shrivel, wane, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither; regress, retrogress, revert; backslide, lapse, return

-age

noun suffix

Definition of -age

1 :aggregate :collection

trackage

2 a :action :process

haulage

b :cumulative result of

breakage

c :rate of

dosage

3 :house or place of

orphanage

4 :state :rank

peonage

5 :charge

postage

Origin and Etymology of -age

Middle English, from Old French, from Latin -aticum

AGE Defined for English Language Learners

age

noun

Definition of age for English Language Learners

: the amount of time during which a person or animal has lived
: the amount of time during which a thing has existed
: the time of life when a person does something or becomes legally able to do something

age

verb

Definition of age for English Language Learners

: to become old or older
: to cause (someone or something) to become old or to appear to be old
of food or drink : to be stored for a period of time in order to gain desired qualities

-age

noun suffix

Definition of -age for English Language Learners

: action, process, or result of
: total amount or collection
: house or place of

AGE Defined for Kids

age

noun \ ˈāj \

Definition of age for Students

1 :the amount of time during which someone or something has lived or existed

The child was six years of age.

2 :the time of life when a person receives some right or capacity

The voting age is 18.

3 :the later part of life

His mind was active in age as in youth.

4 :the condition of being old

The building is showing signs of age.

5 :a period of time associated with a person or thing

the age of dinosaurs

6 :a long period of time

It's been ages since we last saw you.

age

verb

Definition of age for Students

aged \ˈājd\; aging or ageing

1 :to become old or older

As he aged, he grew more forgetful.

2 :to cause to become old or to appear to be old

Her troubles have aged her.

3 :to remain or cause to remain undisturbed until fit for use :mature

The cheese must age.

-age

noun suffix \ ij \

Definition of -age for Students

1 :total amount :collection

mileage

2 :action :process

coverage

3 :result of

coinage

4 :rate of

shrinkage

5 :house or place of

orphanage

6 :state :condition

blockage

7 :fee :charge

postage

Medical Dictionary

age

noun \ ˈāj \

medical Definition of age

1 a :the part of life from birth to a given time

a child 10 years of age

b :the time or part of life at which some particular event, qualification, or capacity arises, occurs, or is lost

of reproductive age

age of onset

— see middle age

c :an advanced stage of life

2 :an individual's development measured in terms of the years requisite for like development of an average individual

a child of 7 with a mental age of 10

— see binet age, mental age

age

verb

medical Definition of age

aged; aging or ageing

intransitive verb

:to become old :show the effects or the characteristics of increasing age

transitive verb

:to cause to become old

Law Dictionary

age

noun

legal Definition of age

:the time of life at which some particular qualification, power, or capacity arises

the voting age is 18

— see also legal age, majority

Learn More about age

See words that rhyme with age Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for age Spanish Central: Translation of age Nglish: Translation of age for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of age for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about age

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age

Definition of age

From the M-W Editors

Examples of age in a Sentence

Recent Examples of age from the Web

Origin and Etymology of age

age Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of age

age

Definition of age

ager

Examples of age in a Sentence

Recent Examples of age from the Web

First Known Use of age

age Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

-age

Definition of -age

Origin and Etymology of -age

AGE Defined for English Language Learners

age

Definition of age for English Language Learners

age

Definition of age for English Language Learners

-age

Definition of -age for English Language Learners

AGE Defined for Kids

age

Definition of age for Students

age

Definition of age for Students

-age

Definition of -age for Students

Medical Dictionary

age

medical Definition of age

age

medical Definition of age

Law Dictionary

age

legal Definition of age

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