old

SayOHLD/ˈoʊld//ˈəʊld/

20 meanings of old

1
elderlyadjective
Having lived for many years and near the end of a normal life span.
Like a tree that has grown for many, many years.
My grandmother is very old now and walks slowly.
Old dogs often sleep more than young puppies do.
UsageSay older than me (not ~~incorrect: elder than me~~). My elder sister is also fine.
Similarelderly, aged
Oppositeyoung
Note
2
existed longadjective
Having existed for a long time and not new or recent.
Like a stone wall that has stood there for ages.
They live in an old house near the river.
Our family has an old tradition of eating pancakes on New Year's Day.
UsageSay an old bridge; for very, very old things, say ancient.
Similarancient, longstanding
Oppositenew, recent, modern
Note
3
adjective
Having lived or existed for a stated amount of time.
My little brother is seven years old today.
The puppy is only three months old.
UsageSay I'm ten years old (not ~~incorrect: I have ten years~~).
Note
4
adjective
From an earlier time, or that you had or knew before, or that no longer exists.
I ran into an old classmate at the store yesterday.
We drove past my old school on the way home.
UsageBefore a noun: my old school is the school I went to before, not a school that is old.
Similarformer, previous, earlier, past, onetime
Oppositecurrent, present, new
Note
5
used beforeadjective
Not new or fresh any more, because it has been used or kept for a long time.
Like a pair of sneakers you have worn many times before.
She gave her old shoes to the charity shop.
I wrote the shopping list on the back of an old envelope.
UsageOld shoes are not new. People are old or young.
Similarworn, used, worn-out, stale, secondhand
Oppositenew, fresh
6
adjectivecolloquial
Used in a warm, friendly way about someone you know well.
Good old Tom always knows how to cheer me up.
Come here, you old softie, and give me a hug.
UsageSay good old Sam about a friend you like.
Note
7
adjective
Out of date, because something newer has taken its place.
That old phone uses a charger no one sells anymore.
Schools threw out their old textbooks for newer ones.
Similaroutdated, obsolete, antiquated, outmoded
Oppositenew, modern, current
8
adjective
Well known to you because you have met it or seen it many times before.
Like a path you have walked so many times you could follow it with your eyes closed.
It felt nice to be back among old friends.
He greeted me warmly, like an old buddy he had known forever.
UsageSay the same old story for something you have heard many times.
Similarfamiliar
Oppositenew
Note

Less common meanings

9
tiresomeadjective
Boring because it has happened too many times.
Like a song you've heard so many times you're tired of it.
Watching the same cartoon every morning is getting old.
That same excuse is getting really old now.
UsageSay this is getting old when you are tired of it.
Similartiresome, stale, tedious
Note
10
adjective
Added after a word like good or great to make it stronger, often in a friendly way.
We had a good old laugh about it afterward.
They threw a great old party for her birthday.
UsageIn a good old chat, old says nothing about age.
Note
11
the elderlynouncountable or uncountableinvariableplural
People who are old, thought of together as a group.
Society should take good care of the old.
The old often have much wisdom to share with younger people.
UsageUse a plural verb (the old are), and say an old person for just one person.
Similarelderly, aged
Oppositeyoung
12
nounslangcountable or uncountable
Your mother and father.
My olds are picking me up after the party.
Her olds let her stay out late on weekends.
UsageSay my olds for my parents when talking with friends.
Similarfolks, parents
Note
13
nounslangcountable or uncountable
A person who is older than you, especially an adult next to a teenager.
The olds just don't get our music.
The pool was full of olds, so we went to the beach instead.
UsageIt can sound rude if you say it to an older person.
Note
14
adjective
Of a language or kind of animal, coming from a very early line that is only distantly related to others.
Similarancient
Note
15
faded (color)adjective
Describing a soft, faded shade of a color, like a dull pink or red.
She painted the bedroom walls an old rose color.
His tie was an old gold shade that matched the curtains.
UsageUsed in color names like old rose.
Similarmuted, faded
Oppositebright, vivid
Note
16
school graduate (UK)adjectiveUK
Describing someone who once attended a particular school, especially in Britain.
He went to that school as a boy, so he is one of its old boys.
Many old girls came back to the school for its hundredth birthday.
UsageOld boys are former pupils of a school.
Note
17
too grown-upadjective
Meant for older people, so not suitable for someone younger, like a book too old for a small child.
Some of the jokes were a bit too old for the kids watching.
That movie is really too old for an eight-year-old.
UsageSay too old for small children.
Similaradult, mature
Note
18
dark beernounAustraliauncountable
A dark kind of beer made using a traditional brewing method.
He ordered a pint of old at the bar.
The pub is known for its smooth, dark old.
UsageAsk for a glass of old.
Oppositenew
Note
19
adjectiveobsolete
Very great in amount, more than enough.
URSULA: Madam, you must come to your uncle. Yonder's old coil at home: it is proved, my Lady Hero hath been falsely accused, the prince and Claudio mightily abused;
1598, William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”Here, old means very great, so there is a huge fuss at home.
Note
20
adjective
Of a person, good at something because they have done it for a long time.
At twenty-five, Maya is already an old hand at fixing bikes.
Don't worry about the speech. Dad is an old pro at talking to crowds.
UsageAn old hand is someone with lots of experience.
Similarseasoned, experienced, veteran
Oppositeinexperienced
Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Old English "eald" meaning old or aged. This goes back to an old Germanic word meaning "grown-up".

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Old derives from Old English eald, meaning old or aged. en.wiktionary.org
Eald goes back to a Germanic word meaning grown-up. en.wiktionary.org