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
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
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
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
Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
China’s newest aircraft carrier may only be able to conduct air operations at about 60% the rate of a 50-year-old US Navy carrier, two former US carrier officers say, a substantial combat limitation for a vessel meant to revolutionize Beijing’s fleet.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
Many of us thought that the image of crying, blood-spattered 6 and 7 year olds, marching-in-train across a school parking lot would finally convince America’s gun owners to concede to meaningful gun reform.
—K. Ward Cummings, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for old
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.
Adjective
Officers brought the 12-year-old to the Copperas Cove Police Department and alerted Child Protective Services (CPS), according to the complaint.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
China’s newest aircraft carrier may only be able to conduct air operations at about 60% the rate of a 50-year-old US Navy carrier, two former US carrier officers say, a substantial combat limitation for a vessel meant to revolutionize Beijing’s fleet.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
The disease has become an inescapable part of modern life even for 24-year-olds like Woodson who through loss has come to learn there is only one way through.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
Many of us thought that the image of crying, blood-spattered 6 and 7 year olds, marching-in-train across a school parking lot would finally convince America’s gun owners to concede to meaningful gun reform.
—K. Ward Cummings, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for old
Cite this Entry
“Old.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/old. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
old
1 of 2 adjective1
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share