old

oldadjective

Old means having lived or existed for a long time, and so also not new, of an age, or from an earlier time.

1. not younghaving lived for a long time; not young

   • My grandmother is very old now, but she still walks every day.
   • An old man was sitting by the window.
   • The dog is getting old and sleeps most of the day.
   • Older people often find the stairs difficult. (older is politer than old for people)

   Collocations

   adjective + noun an old man, an old woman, old people, an old dog

   adverb + adjective very old, quite old, too old, old enough

   phrase grow old, get old, look old, old age

   Synonyms elderly (elderly is polite and is used of people)

   Antonyms young

2. not newhaving existed or been used for a long time; not new

   • They live in an old house with a big garden.
   • I wear my old clothes when I paint.
   • It's an old joke, but it still makes me laugh.
   • The town has many old buildings and narrow streets.

   Collocations

   adjective + noun an old house, an old car, old clothes, an old tradition, an old joke, an old song

   Synonyms ancient (ancient means thousands of years old); antique (antique means old and valuable, of furniture and objects)

   Antonyms new; modern

3. of an agehaving lived for the number of years stated, or of a particular age

   • How old is your daughter? (asking about age)
   • My grandfather is ninety years old. (the number of years comes first)
   • The building is over a hundred years old.
   • Lee has a three-year-old son. (before a noun the form is three-year-old, with no s)

   Collocations

   phrase ten years old, how old, a ten-year-old child, old enough to do something, too old to do something

   For translators (sense 3)

   Grammar trap Age is stated with be plus a number plus years old: she is ten years old, or simply she is ten. Many languages use a verb meaning have or a different construction.

4. formerfrom an earlier time in your life; former

   attributive only [attrib]

   • I met my old teacher at the store yesterday. (the teacher I had before)
   • We drove past our old house.
   • In my old job I worked at night.
   • In the old days, people wrote letters.

   Collocations

   adjective + noun my old school, my old job, my old boss, an old boyfriend, the old days, the old system

   Synonyms former (former is more formal); previous

   Antonyms new (my new job); current

5. of a friendknown or kept for a long time

   attributive only [attrib]

   • Sam is an old friend of mine from school. (an old friend: a friend for a long time, not an elderly one)
   • Old habits are hard to break.
   • The two families were old enemies.

   Collocations

   adjective + noun an old friend, an old enemy, old habits, an old rival

6. showing warmthknown well and felt warm toward

   Used before a name or a plain noun to show affection: good old Sam, old friend.

   attributive only [attrib] not gradable [not gradable] informalaffectionate

   • Good old Sam always brings the coffee.
   • Poor old Kim has a cold again.
   • Hello, old friend! It's been years.

   Collocations

   phrase good old, poor old, dear old, silly old