old 1 of 2

adjective

ˈōld How to pronounce old (audio)
Definition of oldnext
1
as in older
being of advanced years and especially past middle age every day the old fisherman set out in his small boat to brave the dangers of the sea

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2
as in ancient
dating or surviving from the distant past an extremely old piece of jewelry was discovered in the Egyptian ruins

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3
as in former
having been such at some previous time I ran into my old fourth-grade teacher yesterday

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4
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest even the most stirring speeches start to get old after you've heard them a few times

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old

2 of 2

noun

as in antiquity

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an old woman
an elderly woman
an octogenarian woman
a senior woman
a grandmotherly woman
an elder woman
an old house
an outdated house
an obsolete house
a previous house
a former house
an earlier house
old days
ancient days
archaic days
long-past days
in-those days
simpler days
an old town
a historic town
a classic town
a historical town
an ancient town
an old friend
a longtime friend
a past friend
a familiar friend
a longstanding friend
a previous friend

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective old differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of old are ancient, antiquated, antique, archaic, obsolete, and venerable. While all these words mean "having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past," old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence.

old houses
an old sweater of mine

When can ancient be used instead of old?

While in some cases nearly identical to old, ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past.

ancient accounts of dragons

When might antiquated be a better fit than old?

In some situations, the words antiquated and old are roughly equivalent. However, antiquated implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time.

antiquated teaching methods

When would antique be a good substitute for old?

The meanings of antique and old largely overlap; however, antique applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time.

collected antique Chippendale furniture

When is archaic a more appropriate choice than old?

While the synonyms archaic and old are close in meaning, archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time.

the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period

In what contexts can obsolete take the place of old?

The words obsolete and old are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, obsolete may apply to something regarded as no longer acceptable or useful even though it is still in existence.

a computer that makes earlier models obsolete

When is it sensible to use venerable instead of old?

The words venerable and old can be used in similar contexts, but venerable stresses the impressiveness and dignity of great age.

the family's venerable patriarch

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 old
Adjective
Of course, the new standard will be backward-compatible with Wi-Fi 6 devices, as well as older Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) ones. —Iyaz Akhtar, PC Magazine, 13 May 2025 Founded in Founded in 1896, Pathé is France’s biggest and oldest film company spanning production, distribution and exhibition. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 12 May 2025
Noun
Two 17-year-olds have been charged as adults in the gruesome stabbing earlier this month of a 14-year-old in Snohomish County, Washington. —Brie Stimson, Fox News, 29 Dec. 2024 Two 14-year-olds and a 15-year-old were injured. —Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 16 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for old
Recent Examples of Synonyms for old
  1. ancient
  2. former
  3. boring
  4. antiquity
  5. elderly
  6. venerable
  7. erstwhile
  8. stupid
Adjective
  • It’s all designed to try to persuade visitors that the biblical story was literally true — that an ancient Noah really could have built such a sophisticated ship.
    — Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
  • Scientists have discovered a huge spike in radiocarbon levels 14,300 years ago by analyzing ancient tree-rings.
    — David Bressan, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
Definition of ancient
Adjective
  • Thornton and Veronica Burton — both former Dallas Wings teammates — combined for 13 points in the third, but the lead again stretched to 16 at the end of the third.
    — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
  • Legends finds Jackson playing Victor, a former boxing champ and pizzeria owner.
    — Nicole Acosta, People.com, 28 May 2025
Definition of former
Adjective
  • Belief that your institution is exempt from the hard, functional and often boring parts of the job leads to a slow decline.
    — Carl Anka, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • Organizations that foster a culture of self-compassion can empower their employees to better navigate stress, maintain their well-being, and - perhaps boring but no less important - adhere to safety protocols.
    — Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Definition of boring
Noun
  • Early monks and concern for community In antiquity, some Christians chose to lead a more perfect religious life by leaving ordinary society and living together in groups, in the wilderness.
    — Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 27 May 2025
  • Heller in 1977, surrounded by chairs and antiquities similar to the style of furniture and art in the apartment now.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 19 May 2025
Definition of antiquity
Adjective
  • When an elderly man boarded an Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to Juneau, Alaska, his travel companion knew the journey carried special weight.
    — Darlin Tillery, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
  • Even so, there were reports about how Biden’s age could have become a political liability even before then-special counsel Robert Hur’s reporting describing the then-president as an elderly man with a bad memory.
    — W. James Antle III, The Washington Examiner, 30 May 2025
Definition of elderly
Adjective
  • After being overhauled in major fashion earlier this year, the venerable evening newscast, which has direct ties to Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather, is likely to get some new twists and tweaks.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 19 May 2025
  • Michael Teo Van Runkle Michael Teo Van Runkle The venerable EA888 engine.
    — Michael Teo Van Runkle, ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
Definition of venerable
Adjective
  • Manfred, like other MLB commissioners before him, had rejected Rose’s petitions for reinstatement while the erstwhile slugger was still alive.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 14 May 2025
  • Radcliffe will play Arthur Tobin, an award-winning filmmaker who moves into Reggie's mansion to shoot an immersive documentary about the erstwhile star athlete.
    — Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 12 May 2025
Definition of erstwhile
Adjective
  • Not just on the training pitch but in the dorm rooms, talking about the future and giggling at stupid jokes.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 21 May 2025
  • President Donald Trump said only stupid people would refuse a $400 million gift.
    — Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 17 May 2025
Definition of stupid

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Cite this Entry

“Old.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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