Definition of old
1a : dating from the remote past : ancient old traditionsb : persisting from an earlier time an old ailment they brought up the same old argumentc : of long standing an old friend
2a : distinguished from an object of the same kind by being of an earlier date many still used the old nameb capitalized : belonging to an early period in the development of a language or literature Old Persian
3 : having existed for a specified period of time a child three years old
4 : of, relating to, or originating in a past era old chronicles record the event
5a : advanced in years or age an old personb : showing the characteristics of age looked old at 20
6 : experienced an old trooper speaking of the last war
7 : former his old students
8a : showing the effects of time or use : worn, aged old shoesb : no longer in use : discarded old ragsc : of a grayish or dusty color old mauved : tiresome gets old fast
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Examples of old in a Sentence
He's an old man now.
We rented an old black-and-white movie.
There's an old saying that good fences make good neighbors.
a new approach to an old problem
She wore a T-shirt and an old pair of jeans.
I wish you would stop wearing that dirty old hat!
The hotel was old and dingy.
the oldest known civilization in the region
The house we live in is 50 years old.
We went back to visit our old neighborhood.
Recent Examples of old from the Web
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Religious conservatives have quietly displaced India’s old, privileged secular elite at the helm of universities and other state institutions.
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The Alzheimer’s Association is funding a study to find out, with enrollment of 2,500 cognitively healthy but high-risk older adults to begin next year.
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The Alzheimer's Association is funding a study to find out, with enrollment of 2,500 cognitively healthy but high-risk older adults to begin next year.
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The Alzheimer’s Association is funding a study to find out, with enrollment of 2,500 cognitively healthy but high-risk older adults to begin next year.
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In elementary school, my daughter’s best friend’s mom was old enough to be my mom.
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Though dogs are humanity's oldest and most consistent animal friend, scientists have long struggled to figure out just how Canis familiaris came to be.
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KHN’s coverage related to aging & improving care of older adults is supported by The John A. Hartford Foundation.
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At one point, the old Watts mill rose two stories about Indian Creek.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'old.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of old
Middle English, from Old English eald; akin to Old High German alt old, Latin alere to nourish, alescere to grow, altus high, deep
Synonym Discussion of old
old
Definition of old
1 : one of a specified age —usually used in combination a 3-year-old
2 : old or earlier time —used in the phrase of old the cavalry of old
Examples of old in a Sentence
Young and old alike will enjoy the movie.
Recent Examples of old from the Web
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The two 21-year-olds might be considered lucky to be preparing to enter the workforce now, as a flood of European Central Bank stimulus cuts unemployment and buoys economic growth.
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Ananat and her colleagues looked at suicidal thoughts reported among 12- to 17-year-olds in the year after companies in their home states reported large layoffs.
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The rate of gonorrhea among 15- to 19-year-olds jumped by 40 percent from 2015 to 2016 and the rate of chlamydia by 15 percent.
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Some 63 percent of 18-34 year-olds voted Labour compared to 27 percent who cast ballots for May's ruling Conservative Party, according to Sky Data.
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In 2016, only 14 percent of 28- to 35-year-old men agreed that most people are trustworthy, compared with 41 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds in 2006.
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Nationally, the unemployment rate for 25- to 35-year-olds with less than matric was 47 percent, compared with 33 percent of those who had matric, and 20 percent for those who had some higher education, according to the most recent national census.
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The two 21-year-olds take on San Francisco in the highly-stylize clip.
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Alabama has 816 prekindergarten classrooms, enough to serve 25 percent of the state's 4-year-olds, according to the Alabama School Readiness Alliance.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'old.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of old
see 1old
OLD Defined for English Language Learners
old
playDefinition of old for English Language Learners
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: having lived for many years : not young
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—used to talk about or ask about a person's age
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: having a specified age
old
Definition of old for English Language Learners
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: a person who has a specified age
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old : old people
OLD Defined for Kids
Definition of old for Students
older
;oldest
1 : having lived a long time an old dog
2 : showing the effects of time or use Grandpa wore an old coat.
3 : having existed for a specified length of time My brother is three years old.
4 : dating from the distant past : ancient an old custom
5 : having lasted or been such for a long time She's an old friend of mine.
6 : former My old neighbors came to visit.
Definition of old for Students
: a distant or earlier time Life was tough in days of old.
Learn More about old
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See words that rhyme with old Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for old Spanish Central: Translation of old Nglish: Translation of old for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of old for Arabic speakers
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