age 1 of 2

noun

ˈāj How to pronounce age (audio)
Definition of agenext
1
as in era
an extent of time associated with a particular person or thing the Bronze Age marks the beginning of the use of metal by ancient peoples

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in months
a long or seemingly long period of time it took ages for the clerk to ring up three items

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in twilight
a later period of one's life stoically endures all of the aches and pains that come with age

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in maturity
the state of being an old person at 88, she gets frustrated by the feebleness that is inevitable with age

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in antiquity
the state of being something old the copper monument has acquired the patina of age

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

age

2 of 2

verb

as in to grow
to become mature as your cat ages and becomes less active, you should change her diet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun age differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of age are epoch, era, and period. While all these words mean "a division of time," age is used frequently of a fairly definite period dominated by a prominent figure or feature.

the age of Samuel Johnson

When is it sensible to use epoch instead of age?

The words epoch and age are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

When can era be used instead of age?

In some situations, the words era and age are roughly equivalent. However, era suggests a period of history marked by a new or distinct order of things.

the era of global communications

When might period be a better fit than age?

While the synonyms period and age are close in meaning, period may designate an extent of time of any length.

periods of economic prosperity

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of age
Noun
Specific schools were evaluated based on building capacity, age and condition, future maintenance costs, transportation, location, potential boundary adjustments and school programs. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026 Watch for policy proposals that would cover professional home assessments for adults over a certain age, which would shift aging in place preparation from optional to routine. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
The film stars Cruise as an aging oil tycoon whose drilling operations trigger a catastrophic climate change disaster. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 In some parts of the country, dangerous sinkholes are opening as aging, abandoned mine infrastructure erodes beneath communities, roads and public lands. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for age
Recent Examples of Synonyms for age
  1. era
  2. forever
  3. twilight
  4. maturity
  5. antiquity
  6. grow
  7. day
  8. long
Noun
  • That her means of exit is abandoning her newborn twins is less than sympathetic, but in a different era Cathy would have options beyond a domesticity that never suited her in the first place.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The challenge now is making sure the album has enough time to establish its own identity instead of getting lost in that quick turnaround or blending with the Something Beautiful era.
    — Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of era
Noun
  • There is a certain ease and flow to the conversation with your forevers.
    — Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 17 May 2026
  • Miami trailed 1-0 fast, in the sixth minute, when the defense left Guilherme Biro unmarked for a downward header off a corner kick, gifting Biro the forever-history of the first goal in the new stadium.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Definition of forever
Noun
  • Arizona led 2-1 in the third before the Padres went in front on Ty France's RBI groundout and Gavin Sheets' RBI double that center fielder Tim Tawa lost in the lights and twilight sky.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • And at twilight, New Orleans bandleader and composer Jon Batiste delivered a contagious tour-de-force of joy and struggle, careening from ragtime classics to contemporary numbers.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of twilight
Noun
  • Aries March 21 – April 19 Partnership asks for a little more maturity today.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 4 Oct. 2026
  • After all, the oysters on the coast of the Discovery Islands that are featured in the film take years to reach maturity, but all around them, the pace of environmental change is accelerating.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of maturity
Noun
  • The Palmyran relief, alongside 14 mosaics taken from a Syrian Roman villa, are part of a collection of 31 Middle Eastern and North African antiquities allegedly brought to New York by trafficker Georges Lotfi.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The récamier is not an especially practical piece of furniture, but one on which a person could pose elegantly and decoratively, especially at a time when fashion favored flowing white dresses inspired by antiquity.
    — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of antiquity
Verb
  • Now some of the nation’s most prestigious health systems are jumping into the growing business of longevity.
    — Sarah Todd, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The actor was in and out of colleges but studied acting and grew fond of Shakespeare, according to People.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of grow
Noun
  • Mbappé did, however, post a video of himself cycling on social media over the weekend, days after his Real Madrid manager, José Mourinho, said that activity is one soccer players should avoid.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Some 10 days after the attack, the soldiers were loaded onto a cargo plane.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of day
Noun
  • The 49ers have played from ahead in each of their three games, minimizing obvious passing situations and third-and-longs.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • This is the story of JAŸ-Z in 8, a new long but guarded eight-part HBO docuseries about the rapper directed and produced by Def Jam co-founder Rick Rubin.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of long

Phrases Containing age

Browse Nearby Words

agape
age
aged
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Cite this Entry

“Age.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/age. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on age

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about age

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