old

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/oʊld/
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Having lived or existed for a long time.
Practice using old in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • I found an old favorite song.
  • She kept her old books.
  • She misses her old apartment.
  • This policy affects the old.
  • This house is a hundred years old.

Similar words

poor
long-standing
past
aged
former
dear
longtime
older people
previous
aged

Meanings

Of a stated age

adjective
daily life
neutral
Having lived or existed for the number of years stated.

Examples

  • How old are you?
  • The baby is two months old.
  • She's ten years old today.
  • This house is a hundred years old.
  • He's older than his brother.

Similar words

aged

No longer young

adjective
daily life
neutral
Having lived for many years.

Examples

  • My grandfather is getting old.
  • An old woman opened the door.
  • They grew old together.
  • He's too old to play on that junior team.
  • The oldest person in the room was ninety.

Similar words

elderly
aged

Older people as a group

noun
daily life
neutral
Older people considered together as a group, usually in the phrase 'the old'.

Examples

  • The old and the young shared the hall.
  • This policy affects the old.
  • We should listen to the old as well as the young.
  • The center offers classes for the old.
  • The old were invited to the celebration.

Similar words

older people
seniors

Not new

adjective
daily life
neutral
Having existed or been used for a long time.

Examples

  • We live in an old house.
  • That table is very old.
  • She kept her old books.
  • It's an old tradition in our family.
  • These are the oldest trees in the park.

Similar words

aged
long-standing

Belonging to the past

adjective
daily life
neutral
Connected with an earlier time in history or in someone's life.

Examples

  • I visited my old school.
  • Things were different in the old days.
  • She showed me photos of the old town.
  • We talked about our old teachers.
  • He still likes the old songs.

Similar words

former
past

Replaced by another

adjective
daily life
neutral
Used to identify the thing someone had before getting a different one.

Examples

  • I gave away my old phone.
  • Our old car was blue.
  • She misses her old apartment.
  • Where did you put the old fridge?
  • He went back to his old job.

Similar words

former
previous

Known for a long time

adjective
relationships
neutral
Used for a person or thing someone has known for many years.

Examples

  • She's an old friend of mine.
  • We met an old neighbor at the station.
  • He called his old teacher.
  • The two old rivals played again.
  • I found an old favorite song.

Similar words

long-standing
longtime

Expressing feeling

adjective
relationships
informal
Used before a noun to add affection, sympathy, or dismissive emphasis.

Examples

  • Good old Dad fixed it again.
  • That poor old dog is tired.
  • I don't need your silly old map.
  • Dear old Grandma remembered everyone.
  • It's the same boring old story.

Similar words

dear
poor

Etymology

From Old English ald, related to Dutch oud and German alt.

FAQ

What does old mean?

It can describe age, long existence, or something from an earlier time.

How do you ask someone's age with old?

Ask 'How old are you?'

Is old always about people?

No. A house, book, habit or tradition can be old.

What are the comparative forms of old?

They are older and oldest.

What is an old friend?

A friend you have known for a long time, regardless of their age.

Does 'my old phone' mean it was ancient?

Not necessarily. It can mean the phone you used before your current one.

Is 'the old' a respectful way to name people?

It can sound impersonal; 'older people' is often more considerate.

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