Definition age in British English

Talking or writing about someone’s age

asking about age

how old used for asking someone their age or talking about their age: How old are you now, Peter? ♦ I’m not sure how old she is.

what age used for talking about the age someone is at a particular time: At what age did you start playing the piano? ♦ Decide what age you want to retire at.

saying how old someone is

be 2/10/40 etc the most usual way of saying how old someone is: I will be 45 next birthday. ♦ She was only nine when her father left.

be 2/10/40 years old or 2/10/40 years of age: Sarah will be 18 years old on 25th May. ♦ I’ve lived here since I was six years of age.

be 2/3/4 months old used for talking about babies or young children: Most children don’t start to walk until they are around 12 to 14 months old.

aged 2/10/40 etc: Ideally, we want someone aged 20–25 to work as a trainee. ♦ A girl aged 14 has been chosen to play the leading role.

of 2/10/40 etc: A child of three is unlikely to show much interest in reading and writing. ♦ Shortly after turning 19, she became engaged to a man of 45.

2-/10-/40-year-old used before a noun, or used as a noun: a 56-year-old man ♦ a lively 20-year-old

under 2/10/40 etc less than a particular number of years old: Women under 40 generally don’t need regular mammograms. ♦ We have a playgroup for the under-fives.

over 2/10/40 etc more than a particular number of years old: You have to be over 65 to join.

when you are not saying exactly how old someone is

in your teens/twenties/thirties etc used for saying that someone is aged between 13–19, 20–29, 30–39 etc: Children often become quite difficult in their teens. ♦ Police are looking for a man in his early thirties.

twenty-something/thirty-something etc- used as an adjective or noun for talking about someone aged between 20–29, 30–39 etc: a successful twenty-something lawyer ♦ The programme is designed to appeal to thirty-somethings.

teenage aged between 13 and 19: a group of teenage girls waiting for the bus

teenager someone aged between 13 and 19

middle-aged no longer young, but not yet old, usually used for someone aged between 40 and 60: a middle-aged couple with grown-up children