oldest
ˈoʊldəst
Definition Synonyms

Definition of oldest - Reverso English Dictionary

Adjective

1.
agehaving lived for the most years
  • She is the oldest person in the village.
eldest firstborn senior
2.
familyfirstborn among siblings
  • She is the oldest sister in her family.
eldest firstborn
3.
chronologyearliest in a sequence or history
  • This is the oldest known civilization.
eldest firstborn
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Expressions with oldest

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alternative name for prostitution as the earliest known job
Many call prostitution the oldest profession in the world.
prostitution as one of the earliest professions
Many refer to it as the oldest occupation.
prostitution as an occupation, often used humorously or indirectly
Some say she worked in the oldest profession.
prostitution as a long-standing occupation
Many refer to it as the world's oldest profession.

Origin of oldest

Old English, eald (old) + -est (superlative)

Terms with oldest included in their meaning

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family
child who is neither oldest nor youngest in a family
eldestadj.
family
being the oldest among siblings or group
kin
oldest child born to parents in a family
community
oldest or most respected member of a group
oldest member
the oldest member in a family
geology
concept that oldest rock layer is at the bottom
brain structure
oldest brain part controlling basic instincts and survival behaviors
education
home to Slovenia's oldest university

Examples of oldest in a sentence

  • The oldest tree in the forest is over 500 years old.
  • The oldest child often takes on more responsibility.
  • Being the oldest, he set an example for his siblings.
  • The oldest tree in the park is over 300 years old.
  • He found the oldest coin in the collection.

View all translations of oldest

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:aîné, aînée, ...
  2. German:älteste, erstgeborene, ...
  3. Italian:più vecchio, maggiore, ...
  4. Spanish:de mayor edad, mayor, ...
  5. Portuguese:mais idoso, primogénito, ...
  6. Chinese:最年长的, 长子, ...
  7. Japanese:最年長, 一番上の, ...
  8. Arabic:الأَكْبَر سِنًّا, الأكبَر, ...
  9. Hebrew:מְבֻגָּר בְּיוֹתֵר, בְּכוֹר, ...
  10. Russian:самый старый, старший, ...
  11. Ukrainian:найстаріший, найстарший, ...
  12. Hindi:सबसे बुज़ुर्ग, सबसे बड़ा, ...
old
oʊld
eldereldest

Definition of old - Reverso English Dictionary

Adjective

1.
time durationhaving existed for a long time
  • This old castle has stood for centuries..
aged ancient
2.
appearanceshowing signs of age or wear
  • The old book had yellowed pages and a musty smell..
aged worn
3.
past statusformer or previous
  • She visited her old school..
former previous prior

Noun, plural

elderly personspeople who are advanced in age
  • The community center offers activities for the old..
elderly
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Expressions with old

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ordinary or typical without special features
He just grabbed any old shirt from the closet.
card game where players avoid an unmatchable card
We played old maid during the family gathering.
valued for traditional style, charm, or nostalgia from the past
Her old school dress stood out at the party.
physical injuries that have not fully healed
His old wounds still ached in the cold weather.
return to previous habits after change
After a month of dieting, he went back to his old ways.
past time remembered as better or happier than now
People often talk about the good old days.

Origin of old

Old English, ald (old)

Examples of old in a sentence

  • He found an old coin buried in the garden.
  • The old chair creaked with every movement.
  • Her old coat was frayed at the edges.
  • He met an old friend at the reunion.
  • They reminisced about their old neighborhood.
  • An old woman waited by the gate.

View all translations of old

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:vieux, personnes âgées, ...
  2. German:alt, Alte, ...
  3. Italian:antico, anziani, ...
  4. Spanish:viejo, ancianos, ...
  5. Portuguese:antigo, idosos, ...
  6. Chinese:古老的, 老人, ...
  7. Japanese:古い, 高齢者, ...
  8. Arabic:قَدِيم, كِبار السِن, ...
  9. Hebrew:עָתִיק, זְקֵנִים, ...
  10. Russian:старый, пожилые, ...
  11. Ukrainian:старий, старі, ...
  12. Hindi:पुराना, बुजुर्ग, ...

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