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\ ˈāj 
\
\Definition of age
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a : 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
3a : the period contemporary with a person's lifetime or with his or her active life
b : a long time
—usually used in pluralhaven'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
age
verbaged; aging or ageing
Definition of age (Entry 2 of 3)
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
-age
noun suffixDefinition of -age (Entry 3 of 3)
1 : aggregate : collection
trackage
2a : 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
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Examples of age in a Sentence
Noun
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 Verb
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.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The average age of demonstrators arrested since mid-June in Portland, Oregon (one of the centres of activity) was 28.
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The Economist, "The boomers’ last stand Younger Americans feel their voting weight," 12 Sep. 2020 The average age of kids at all three programs was about 7.
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Mike Stobbe, Star Tribune, "Study: Kids infected at day care spread coronavirus at home," 11 Sep. 2020 The average age of kids at all three programs was about 7.
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Arkansas Online, "Study: Kids infected at day care spread coronavirus at home," 11 Sep. 2020 The average age of kids at all three programs was about 7.
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The Salt Lake Tribune, "Study: Kids infected at day care spread coronavirus at home," 11 Sep. 2020 While age was the strongest factor affecting the death rate, racial differences were notable too.
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Nir Menachemi, The Conversation, "Coronavirus is hundreds of times more deadly for people over 60 than people under 40," 10 Sep. 2020 The average age of the Trump appointees in the Texas courts, for instance, is 51 years old, with the youngest judge being only 40.
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Tom Benning, Dallas News, "Trump has stacked federal courts in Texas and beyond with conservative judges, but GOP, Cornyn want more," 10 Sep. 2020 The number of confirmed and probable cases for the city now totals 5,664, and the average age of those infected is 42, according to the Cleveland Department of Public Health website.
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Peter Krouse, cleveland, "Cleveland reports 14 more coronavirus cases, no new deaths: Sunday update," 6 Sep. 2020 The age of four is a particularly wonderful stage of childhood, Children this age tend to be lively, fun, affectionate, and fascinating.
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Amy Dickinson, chicagotribune.com, "Ask Amy: Dad seems to vie for his son’s attention," 6 Sep. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The leather is meant to age well over time and has a two-piece construction with a protective microfiber lining and a polycarbonate shell for drop protection.
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Ellen Mcalpine, CNN Underscored, "Accessorize your Apple devices with our picks for best accessories of 2020," 14 Sep. 2020 While Boeing says the issue doesn’t pose an immediate hazard, engineers are studying whether the fault could prematurely age the jets’ carbon-fiber structure.
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Julie Johnsson, Bloomberg.com, "Boeing’s Latest 787 Flaw Puts Most of Fleet Under Scrutiny," 8 Sep. 2020 And quarterback is the one position where players can age and play at a high level well into their 40s.
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Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY, "Why these over-30 NFL players won't slow down anytime soon," 3 Sep. 2020 Street life trashes the immune system, experts say, and can age a person at least 15 years.
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Taylor Kate Brown, SFChronicle.com, "Bay Briefing: Blood type among potential COVID-19 risk factors," 10 July 2020 But the greater prize is to help more elders age in their homes and communities.
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Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, "Why the future of elder care may be fewer nursing homes," 31 Aug. 2020 In a world that’s constantly in flux, there’s also something soothing about the fact that these cartoon characters never age.
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Patia Braithwaite, SELF, "29 Super Comforting Movies and TV Shows People Watch When They’re Lonely," 11 Aug. 2020 Your Sims can develop parenting skills that translate into powerful buffs once their kids age up.
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Louryn Strampe, Wired, "These Are the Only Sims 4 Expansions and Add-Ons You Need," 16 Aug. 2020 Researchers have found that people tend to age out of criminality and that lifers who have been released after many years in prison have a low risk of recidivism.
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Patricia Leigh Brown, The Christian Science Monitor, "From life in prison to out on parole: One group easing the transition," 14 Aug. 2020
See MoreThese 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.
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Learn More about age
From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
When Speaking of Age Ranges
When Speaking of Age Ranges
Do we say “children ages 6 through 12” or “aged 6 through 12?”
Dictionary Entries near age
See More Nearby EntriesStatistics for age
Last Updated
17 Sep 2020
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Age.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/age. Accessed 24 Sep. 2020.
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More Definitions for age
age
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of age
(Entry 1 of 3)
: 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
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of age (Entry 2 of 3)
: 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 suffixEnglish Language Learners Definition of -age (Entry 3 of 3)
: action, process, or result of
: total amount or collection
: house or place of
See the full definition for -age in the English Language Learners Dictionary
age
noun\ ˈāj \
\Kids Definition of age
(Entry 1 of 3)
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
verbaged\ ˈājd \; aging or ageing
Kids Definition of age (Entry 2 of 3)
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 \
Kids Definition of -age
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
age
noun\ ˈāj \
\Medical Definition of age
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : 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
verbaged; aging or ageing
Medical Definition of age (Entry 2 of 2)
: to become old : show the effects or the characteristics of increasing age
: to cause to become old
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age
nounKeep scrolling for more
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Time Traveler for age
The first known use of age was in the 13th century
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