olden

adjective

Definition of oldennext
as in historical

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 olden Folk saints fill a void in a largely Catholic country where most saints, many with olden European roots, don’t always resonate. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 7 June 2026 In the olden days, when the United States did summit meetings with the Soviet Union, there was a fundamental reason for that, which is, one of the things that the United States wanted from the Soviet Union was arms control. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026 In those golden olden days, pop idols were thought of in the most hallowed terms possible. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 7 May 2026 One of the world’s largest exhibitions of olden literature is gathering more than a hundred booksellers from across the globe to share their choicest wares — rare tomes, illustrations, maps, historical documents and random ephemera guaranteed to level-up your bookshelf and walls. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for olden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for olden
  1. historical
  2. traditional
  3. historic
  4. antiquated
  5. obsolete
  6. old-time
  7. outmoded
  8. outdated
Adjective
  • But the work’s critics also appeal to its past; actual encounter is informed by historical circumstances, which means looking back.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The bill would have directed state agencies to recognize historical inequities affecting tribes, and to consult with them on water projects, plans and policies.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of historical
Adjective
  • Its signature Song Bag translates the skeletal geometry of traditional Chinese kites into a soft, structured leather vessel.
    — Footwear News, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The Inn operates like a traditional B&B, with free breakfast in the morning, and complimentary wine and cheese in the evening.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of traditional
Adjective
  • The series follows the Canadian team’s historic run to the World Cup final, where they were ultimately toppled by host country England, going down 33-13 in front of a sellout crowd of 82,000 at Twickenham Stadium in South West London.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • America was shoddy caulk oozing from a vinyl arc in a historic heatwave.
    — Anna Kornbluh, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of historic
Adjective
  • Adopting techniques from classic-Hollywood style, cinematographers dusted off antiquated equipment, using tungsten bulbs instead of LEDs to create the low-key contrasts typical of the genre.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Furthermore, its green monochrome display will likely feel antiquated once full-color waveguide tech matures.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of antiquated
Adjective
  • Yet most security programs follow a model that AI has made obsolete.
    — Taylor Morgan, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the rise of artificial intelligence has also sparked growing fears that a traditional four-year college education will become obsolete.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of obsolete
Adjective
  • Bluegrass jams attract spectators who marvel at the players’ pyrotechnics; old-time jams get people on their feet.
    — David Alm, Longreads, 1 Oct. 2026
  • But On the Rocks has the potential to draw customers to Burleson from far around for an old-time Italian restaurant experience with pastas and grill dishes, cocktails, wines and a piano bar.
    — Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of old-time
Adjective
  • Personally, this idea that the woke nonsense is just an outmoded relic of the past is ridiculous.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 13 Aug. 2026
  • If outmoded office buildings end up becoming once again viable as office buildings, Berman’s thesis could end up becoming a casualty of its own transformational success.
    — Andrew Rice, Curbed, 23 July 2026
Definition of outmoded
Adjective
  • If the underlying knowledge environment is fragmented, outdated or poorly governed, AI will often amplify those weaknesses.
    — Mayank Kejriwal, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Driver updater identifies outdated drivers and installs any necessary updates.
    — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of outdated

Browse Nearby Words

old country
olden
older
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of etiquette

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All