Laxi Dictionary

American Dictionary

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Definition old in American English

old adjective

adjective
/oʊld/

Words that may cause offense: old

Avoid saying that someone is old or elderly, and avoid referring to old or elderly people as the old or the elderly. Instead, use expressions such as older people, retired people, the over 50s/60s etc. or seniors where appropriate.

1

used for talking about the age of someone or something

Example

She didn't mention how old her children were.

Example

"How old are you?" "I'm 5 years old."

Example

He's not old enough to see this movie.

Example

Aren't you too old to play with dolls?

Synonyms and related words
a 3-year-old/10-month-old etc. age age
1.1

used for saying that someone is not as young as other people

Example

He's 26 now, which is quite old in this sport.

Example

He's the oldest boy in his class.

Example

I'm older than my brother.

Synonyms and related words
a 3-year-old/10-month-old etc. age age
2

someone or something that is old has lived a long time

Example

A lot of old people live alone.

Example

Trees are the oldest living things on the planet.

Example

I hope I'll still be able to play golf when I get old.

Synonyms and related words
aged ageing age-old the old the elderly Senior
2.1

old people. Many people now think that this expression is offensive.

Synonyms and related words
the aged centenarian the elderly
3

something that is old has existed or been used for a long time

Example

There's an old belief that animals can predict earthquakes.

Example

Her sewing machine's really old, it was her mother's.

Synonyms and related words
aged ageing age-old
3.1

used in a negative way about something that is not useful or in good condition any more

Example

Why do you keep all these old newspapers?

Example

That old car of theirs is getting so unreliable.

Synonyms and related words
useless pointless ineffective
3.2

used in a positive way about something that is very familiar

Example

It was nice to get back into my old routine.

Synonyms and related words
known overt transparent
4

used for describing something that existed, happened, or was used in the past

Example

"Thy" is an old way of saying "your."

Example

Look at all these old machines!

Synonyms and related words
aged ageing age-old
4.1

used for referring to something that has been replaced by a newer thing of the same type

Example

The old highway to Salinas only had two lanes.

Synonyms and related words
aged ageing age-old
4.2

used with the names of cities and countries, for referring to the oldest part or to the way it was in the past

Example

a tour of Warsaw's picturesque Old Town

Synonyms and related words
aged ageing age-old
4.3

used with the names of languages to refer to the form of the language that was used in the past

Example

a poem written in Old English

Synonyms and related words
agglutinative classical cognate
5

used for showing that you like someone and care about them

Example

How is my old buddy Jim?

Example

Dear old Emily, what would we do without her?

Synonyms and related words
mate babe bud
Example

Being the houseguest having to sleep on the couch was getting old very quickly.

Definition old in American English

Related Words

Words related to old:

a etc. (phrase) age-old (adjective) an old . (phrase) an old etc. (phrase) any (old) how (phrase) (as) old as the hills (phrase) be etc. old (phrase) be a chip off the old block (phrase) dirty old man (noun) for old times’ sake (phrase) good old (phrase) good old boy (noun) grand old (phrase) have a high old time (phrase) home (noun) in the old days (phrase) it’s the same old story (phrase) lucky (old) etc. (phrase) money for old rope (phrase) not just any (old) (phrase) of old (phrase) old (adjective) old age (noun) old bag (noun) old bat (noun) old boy (noun) old chestnut (phrase) old economy (noun) Old English (noun) Old English sheepdog (noun) old enough to be someone’s (phrase) old fart (noun) old fashioned (noun) old flame (noun) old fogey (noun) old folk (noun) old girl (noun) Old Glory (noun) old habits die hard (phrase) old hand (noun) old hat (adjective) old lady (noun) old maid (noun) old man (noun) old master (noun) old money (noun) Old Nick (noun) old people’s home (noun) old salt (noun) old school (adjective) old talk (noun) old wives’ tale (noun) old woman (noun) old-fashioned (adjective) old-fashioned (noun) old-growth (adjective) old-time (adjective) old-timer (noun) old-world (adjective) plain old (phrase) poor old (phrase) reopen old wounds (phrase) ripe (old) age (phrase) same old, same old (phrase) settle an (old) score (with someone) (phrase) the (old) bill (phrase) the good old days (phrase) the grand old man of something (phrase) the New Testament () the Old Bailey () the old boy network (noun) the old country (noun) the old guard (noun) the old school (noun) the old school tie (noun) the Old South (noun) the Old Testament (noun) the Old World () the same old... (phrase) up to your tricks (phrase) you can’t teach an old dog new tricks (phrase) your old self (phrase)