DictionaryAI

ageing

AY-jing/ˈeɪ.d͡ʒɪŋ/

US spellingaging

5 meanings of ageing

Practice

  1. 1
    growing older (process)noununcountable
    The gradual process of growing older, in people, other living things or a population, including the slow decline of the body over time; also, the maturing of something over time.

    The ageing of the population means more people will need care in later life.

    Years of ageing in oak casks give the whisky its deep colour.

    Similarmaturation

    Note

    Biologists give the word a narrower, harder edge: the build-up of damage to molecules, cells, tissues and organs over time, and the gradual loss of health and function that ends in death. In everyday use the same noun covers a whole population growing older and, quite differently, the slow maturing of whisky, wine or cheese.

    Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

    • Biological ageing involves damage accumulating in molecules, cells, tissues and organs over time. en.wiktionary.org
    • Ageing leads to gradual decline and ultimately death, but the changes are neither linear nor consistent; 'steady' incorrectly suggests a uniform progression. who.int
  2. 2
    in later yearsadjective
    Growing old; reaching or approaching the later years of life.

    The ageing painter could no longer keep his hand steady enough for fine detail.

    An ageing population is putting more and more pressure on the NHS.

    Similarelderly, old

    Oppositeyoung, youthful

  3. 3
    verb
    Present participle and gerund of age, the verb: used when someone or something is growing older or being made older, as in “is ageing well” or “ageing the cheese”.

    The town's population is ageing as young people move away to the cities.

    Make-up artists spent four hours ageing the actor for the final scenes.

    UsageWorks without an object (the town is ageing) or with one: ageing the actor means making him look older.

    Note

    British spelling usually keeps the e of age before -ing; aging, without it, is the usual American form.

  4. 4
    noununcountable
    The gradual damage something suffers through ordinary use as time goes by.

    The cables were replaced after inspectors found cracking and other signs of ageing.

    The landlord blamed the cracked kitchen worktop on normal ageing rather than on anything the tenants had done.

    Similarwear, deterioration

Less common meaning

  1. 5
    noununcountable
    Treatment meant to make something, such as an antique, look older than it really is, or in science fiction to make it actually older.

    The dealer admitted that the table's worn look came from deliberate ageing with wire brushes and stain.

    In the novel, the alien weapon causes instant ageing, turning soldiers into old men.

Practice

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Origin

Formed from age + -ing.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact