age
ayj
Age (noun) means the length of time someone or something has existed, usually counted in years. Example: “She started school at the age of five.”
noun
1
The length of time someone or something has existed, usually counted in years.
"She started school at the age of five."
"The building's age shows in its crumbling brickwork."
"You need to be a certain age to ride this fairground attraction."
2
A particular period in history, especially one with distinct characteristics.
"The Bronze Age preceded the Iron Age."
"We live in the age of the internet."
"Many people say we are living in an age of rapid change."
3
A long, often exaggerated, period of time.
"It took an age for the bus to arrive."
"I haven't seen her in ages."
"We waited an age in the queue at the post office."
verb
1
To grow older, or to show signs of growing older.
"He's aged a lot since I last saw him."
"Wine ages well in a cool cellar."
"Cheese needs time to age before it develops its strong flavour."
How to use age
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow long something has existed, or a period of history, or growing older over time.
Common pairings
come of age
at the age of
age well
for ages
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Word forms
- Plural
- ages
- Third person singular
- ages
- Past tense
- aged
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She started school at the _____ of five.
Etymology
From Old French aage/eage, ultimately from Latin aetatem, related to aevum ("lifetime"). It displaced the native Old English word for age, "ieldu."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for age
See all rhymes for age →Frequently asked questions
What does “age” mean?
The word “age” means the length of time someone or something has existed, usually counted in years. In plain terms, how long something has existed, or a period of history, or growing older over time.
How do you pronounce “age”?
“Age” is pronounced ayj (/eɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “age” in a sentence?
Here is “age” used in a sentence: “She started school at the age of five.”
What is another word for “age”?
Words with a similar meaning to “age” include mature, elden, eld, date, get on and grow up.
What is the opposite of “age”?
The opposite of “age” — its antonyms — are rejuvenate, youngen and youthen.
What part of speech is “age”?
Depending on how it is used, “age” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “age” come from?
The word “age” comes from Latin. From Old French aage/eage, ultimately from Latin aetatem, related to aevum ("lifetime"). It displaced the native Old English word for age, "ieldu.".
Is “age” a common word?
“Age” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between chronological and biological age?
Chronological age is simply how many years you have been alive, counted from your birth date. Biological age reflects how old your body seems based on health, fitness and cell condition, and can be higher or lower than your actual years. Two people the same age chronologically may differ greatly biologically.
How is a person's age calculated?
Age is measured as the time elapsed since birth, normally expressed in completed years. You count each birthday that has passed, so someone is 'thirty' until the day they turn thirty-one. For babies it is often given in months or weeks, and for objects it is the time since they were made.
What are the different types of age?
Besides chronological age — years since birth — people speak of biological age (how worn the body is), mental or cognitive age (thinking ability compared with a norm), and emotional age (maturity of feelings). In geology and history, 'age' also names a long era, such as the Ice Age or Bronze Age.
Is age the same as an era?
Age can mean both. Most often it means how long someone has existed, measured in years. But it also names a distinct historical or geological period — the Bronze Age, the Middle Ages, the Ice Age. In that sense it overlaps with era and epoch, describing a stretch of time with shared characteristics.
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