old

1 of 2

adjective

ˈōld 

for sense 9 usually

ˈōl 

older; oldest

1

a

: dating from the remote past : ancient

old traditions

b

: persisting from an earlier time

an old ailment

they brought up the same old argument

c

: of long standing

an old friend

2

a

: distinguished from an object of the same kind by being of an earlier date

many still used the old name

b

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

5

a

: advanced in years or age

an old person

b

: showing the characteristics of age

looked old at 20

6

: experienced

an old trooper speaking of the last war

7

: former

his old students

8

a

: showing the effects of time or use : worn, aged

old shoes

b

: no longer in use : discarded

old rags

c

: of a grayish or dusty color

old mauve

d

: tiresome

gets old fast

9

a

: long familiar

same old story

good old Joe

b

—used as an intensive

a high old time

c

—used to express an attitude of affection or amusement

a big old dog

flex the old biceps

any old time

old

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms

Adjective

• older
• elderly
• aging
• ageing
• aged

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of old in a Sentence

Adjective

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.

Noun

Young and old alike will enjoy the movie.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The older elephants surround it, allowing the youngster to relax and play in the water while being protected from crocodiles lurking nearby. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025

In one scene, Agnes is wearing a pair of chunky combat boots, and old, worn pages of her thesis are taped to her window. —Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 29 June 2025

Noun

Dream Forest Camp sessions run from mid-July through the end of August, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a range of activities designed for both 4–12 year olds and 12–15 year olds (snacks and lunch are included). —Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 16 June 2025

In the last three years, the 1-800 number her organization runs has seen a spike in calls from 18 to 20 year olds, and calls from 21 to 25 year olds have tripled. —Rachel Hale, USA Today, 14 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English, from Old English eald; akin to Old High German alt old, Latin alere to nourish, alescere to grow, altus high, deep

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing old

• a doddering old fool
• age-old
• any old
• any old day
• as old as the hills
• (as) tough as old boots
• chip off the old block
• dirty old man
• for old times' sake
• give it the old college try
• good old
• good old boy
• got the old heave-ho
• grand old man
• in one's old age
• know (someone) of old
• money for old rope
• of old
• old age
• old before one's time
• old boy
• old boy network
• old boys' network
• old country
• old enough to know better
• old-fashioned
• old friend
• old girl
• old goat
• old gold
• old-growth
• old guard
• old habits die hard
• old hand
• old hat
• old lady
• old-line
• old maid
• old man
• old-man's beard
• old master
• old money
• old news
• old rose
• old salt
• old school
• old school tie
• old-shoe
• old sledge
• old stagers
• old style
• old-time
• old-timer
• old-timey
• old wives' tale
• old-world
• one's old self
• reopen old wounds
• returned to her old self
• ripe old age
• same old song
• same old song and dance
• the good old days
• the old Adam
• the old country
• the old guard
• the (old) heave-ho
• the old school
• there's no fool like an old fool
• the same old
• the same old story
• up to one's (old) tricks
• you can't teach an old dog new tricks
• young and old
• young/old for one's years

Rhymes for old

• bold
• bowled
• cold
• doled
• foaled
• fold
• gold
• hold
• holed
• mould
• poled
• polled

Kids Definition

old

1 of 2 adjective

ˈōld 

1

a

: dating from the distant past

an old custom

b

: having lasted or been such for a long time

an old friend

2

capitalized : belonging to an early period in development

Old Irish

3

: having existed for a specified length of time

a child three years old

4

: having lived a long time

old people

5

: former sense 1

my old teachers

6

: showing the effects of time or use

wore an old coat

7

: long familiar

it's still the same old story

old

2 of 2 noun

: old or earlier time

in days of old