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age

noun \ ˈāj \
|Updated on: 9 Jun 2018

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

  1. Some people are reluctant to reveal their ages.

  2. She died tragically at a young age.

  3. The treatment depends on the sex and age of the patient.

  4. She died at the ripe old age of 90.

  5. The movie appeals to people of all ages.

  6. Their son needs to spend more time with children his own age.

  7. a group of children ranging in age from 8 to 11

  8. She became involved with a man twice her age.

  9. The program is for people over age 50.

  10. groups of people classified by race and age

Recent Examples of age from the Web

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, borrowed from Anglo-French aage, age (earlier Old French edage, eage), from eé, aé "age, lifetime" (going back to Latin aetāt-, aetās, contraction of earlier aevitās, from aevum "time, lifetime" + -itāt-, -itās -ity) + -age -age — more at 3aye

age Synonyms

Synonyms

afterlife, afternoon, autumn, evening;

Antonyms

springtime;

Near Antonyms

adolescence, youth;

Related Words

sunset, twilight, winter;

anecdotage, dotage, senility;

elderliness, golden years, oldness, seniority;

adulthood, majority, maturity, middle, middle age, midlife, ripeness;

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
2

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

  1. As he aged he grew more and more bitter.

  2. You haven't aged a day since I saw you last!

  3. His troubles have aged him.

  4. Exposure to the sun has aged her skin.

  5. The wine ages in oak barrels.

  6. The wine is aged in oak barrels.

Recent Examples of age from the Web

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 agen, derivative of age 1age

age Synonyms

Synonyms

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

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;

Related Words

mellow, soften;

bloom, blossom, burgeon (also bourgeon), flourish, flower;

open, unfold;

advance, evolve;

get along, get on, gray (also grey);

-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, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin -āticum (as in viāticum "provision for a journey"), neuter of -āticus, adjective suffix of appurtenance, from -a- (probably generalized from verbal derivatives, as vēnāticus "used for hunting," from vēnārī "to hunt") + -ticus, borrowed from Greek -tikos, generalized from derivatives of agent nouns (as athlētikós athletic from athlḗtēs athlete

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

1

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.
2

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

1

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
2

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

  1. 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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