old

play

adjective \ˈōld; for sense 9 usually ˈōl\

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
9a : long familiar same old story good old Joeb —used as an intensive a high old timec —used to express an attitude of affection or amusement a big old dog flex the old biceps any old time

See old defined for English-language learners

See old defined for kids

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

Religious conservatives have quietly displaced India’s old, privileged secular elite at the helm of universities and other state institutions.

— The Economist, "The elephant in its labyrinthIn the race with its tricky neighbour, India has recently been winning," 22 July 2017
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.

— lauran neergaard, The Seattle Times, "Lifestyle changes may help stave off Alzheimer’s," 20 July 2017
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.

— Bloomberg.com, "Lifestyle Changes May Help Stave Off Alzheimer's," 20 July 2017
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.

— Washington Post, "Lifestyle changes to stave off Alzheimer’s? Hints, no proof," 20 July 2017
In elementary school, my daughter’s best friend’s mom was old enough to be my mom.

— The Cut, "The Mom Who Loves Her Daughter But Hates How She Was Conceived," 20 July 2017
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.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "New Study Has a Bone to Pick With Dog Domestication Findings," 20 July 2017
KHN’s coverage related to aging & improving care of older adults is supported by The John A. Hartford Foundation.

— liz szabo, Kaiser Health News, "Depression Among Heart Attack Survivors Can Be Deadly, Yet Is Often Ignored," 20 July 2017
At one point, the old Watts mill rose two stories about Indian Creek.

— darryl levings, kansascity, "How KC’s Watts Mill became a mill — and a fiddler’s paradise," 18 July 2017

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of old

old, ancient, venerable, antique, antiquated, archaic, obsolete mean having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past. old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence. old houses an old sweater of mine ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past. ancient accounts of dragons venerable stresses the impressiveness and dignity of great age. the family's venerable patriarch antique applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time. collected antique Chippendale furniture antiquated implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time. antiquated teaching methods archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time. the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period obsolete may apply to something regarded as no longer acceptable or useful even though it is still in existence. a computer that makes earlier models obsolete

old

noun

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

See old defined for English-language learners

Examples of old in a Sentence

Young and old alike will enjoy the movie.

Recent Examples of old from the Web

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.

— piotr skolimowski, Bloomberg.com, "Draghi Meets Portuguese Youth With Poor Pay Everyone's Concern," 25 June 2017
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.

— alana semuels, The Atlantic, "The Consequences of Factory Closures Last for Generations," 15 June 2017
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.

— john lundy, Twin Cities, "Minnesota teen pregnancy rates continue declining, but STD infections soar," 14 June 2017
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.

— saphora smith, NBC News, "U.K. Election 2017: Youth Turnout Hits May, Boosts Corbyn," 9 June 2017
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.

— mark tessler, Washington Post, "Palestinians don’t trust institutions. What that means for peace 50 years after the Arab-Israeli War.," 8 June 2017
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.

— elles van gelder, Newsweek, "At Prom Night in South Africa's Gangsterland, Teenagers Look Forward to One Carefree Night," 31 May 2017
The two 21-year-olds take on San Francisco in the highly-stylize clip.

— kat bein, Billboard, "Martin Garrix and Troye Sivan Are 'There For You' With Feel Good Future Bass: Watch Video," 26 May 2017
Alabama has 816 prekindergarten classrooms, enough to serve 25 percent of the state's 4-year-olds, according to the Alabama School Readiness Alliance.

— mike cason, AL.com, "National group again gives Alabama's pre-kindergarten program high marks," 24 May 2017

Origin and Etymology of old

see ¹old

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

OLD Defined for English Language Learners

old

play

adjective

Definition of old for English Language Learners

: having lived for many years : not young
—used to talk about or ask about a person's age
: having a specified age

old

noun

Definition of old for English Language Learners

: a person who has a specified age
old : old people

OLD Defined for Kids

old

play

adjective \ˈōld\

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.