the eldest
noun
—used in comparing the ages of people who are members of the same family
He's the eldest of her three brothers.
Examples of the eldest in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sat alongside Dalglish, now 74, is Kelly Cates, the eldest of his four children and one of the UK’s most prominent football TV broadcasters.
—
James Pearce, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
And 26-year-old Jeon, the eldest member, brings quiet leadership shaped by his years in the boy band BAE173.
—Rebecca Cairns, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
That’s because it was designed by Ella, the eldest daughter.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026
Born in London on August 4, 1920, Lady Anne was the eldest child and only daughter of Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer, and his wife, Cynthia Hamilton.
—Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the eldest
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
James Pearce, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
And 26-year-old Jeon, the eldest member, brings quiet leadership shaped by his years in the boy band BAE173.
—Rebecca Cairns, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
That’s because it was designed by Ella, the eldest daughter.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026
Born in London on August 4, 1920, Lady Anne was the eldest child and only daughter of Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer, and his wife, Cynthia Hamilton.
—Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the eldest
Cite this Entry
“The eldest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20eldest. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
