Meaning of old In English

• 0 having lived or existed for many years:

  • an old man

  • We're all getting older.

  • I was shocked by how old he looked.

  • Now come on, you're old enough to tie your own shoelaces, Carlos.

  • I'm too old to be out in the clubs every night.

  • a beautiful old farm house in the country

  • a battered old car

  • That's an old joke - I've heard it about a thousand times.

  • I think this cheese is old, judging by the smell of it.

  • Don't you think that book is too old for you?

• 1 used to describe or ask about someone's age:

  • How old is your father?

  • Rosie's six years old now.

  • It's not very dignified behaviour for a 54-year-old man.

  • He's a couple of years older than me.

• 2 from a period in the past:

  • I saw my old English teacher last time I went home.

  • He bought me a new phone to replace my old one.

  • She showed me her old school.

  • I saw an old boyfriend of mine.

  • In my old job I had less responsibility.

• 3 a language when it was in an early stage in its development

• 4 (especially of a friend) known for a long time:

  • She's one of my oldest friends - we met in kindergarten.

  • There's old Sara working away in the corner.

  • I hear poor old Frank's lost his job.

• 5 old people considered together as a group:

  • These cuts in services will particularly affect the old.

• 6 having lived or existed for a long time in comparison to others of the same kind:

  • An old man lives there with his dog.

  • They have a beautiful old farm house in the country.

  • She got very depressed in her old age (= the time of her life when she was old).

• 7 (esp. of a friend) known for a long time:

  • She’s one of my oldest friends.

  • Poor old Frank broke his arm.

• 8 having a particular age, or an age suited to a particular activity or condition:

  • a 14-year-old

  • Charlie is older than I.

  • You’re old enough to know better.

• 9 from a previous time or a period in the past; former :

  • Our old house in Lakewood burned down.

  • Sharon gave her old skates to her younger cousin.