noun
Common
aging
AY-jihng
Aging (noun) means the natural process of growing older. Example: “Gentle exercise can slow the effects of aging on your joints.”
noun
1
The natural process of growing older.
"Gentle exercise can slow the effects of aging on your joints."
"Doctors are studying how diet affects healthy aging."
"Aging can bring wisdom as well as wrinkles."
2
Making something look or become older on purpose, such as furniture or wine.
"The carpenter used a special stain for the aging of the new oak table."
"Cheese needs months of aging in a cool cellar to develop its flavour."
"The wine spends two years aging in oak barrels before it is bottled."
How to use aging
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGetting older over time, whether that's people, wine, or furniture built to look antique.
UK vs US
British English often spells this "ageing," while American English prefers "aging."
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Word forms
- Plural
- agings
- Comparative
- more aging
- Superlative
- most aging
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Gentle exercise can slow the effects of _____ on your joints.
Etymology
Simply "age" plus the ending "-ing."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for aging
raging
paging
imaging
staging
damaging
engaging
managing
foraging
packaging
rummaging
massaging
averaging
See all rhymes for aging →
Frequently asked questions
What does “aging” mean?
The word “aging” means the natural process of growing older. In plain terms, getting older over time, whether that's people, wine, or furniture built to look antique.
How do you pronounce “aging”?
“Aging” is pronounced AY-jihng (/ˈeɪ.d͡ʒɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “aging” in a sentence?
Here is “aging” used in a sentence: “Doctors are studying how diet affects healthy aging.”
What part of speech is “aging”?
“Aging” is a noun.
Is “aging” a common word?
“Aging” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “aging” have?
“Aging” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the natural process of growing older.
Is it spelled aging or ageing?
Both are correct. Aging is the standard spelling in American English, while ageing is more common in British English. They are the same word with the same meanings: the natural process of growing older, or deliberately making something look or become older.
What is the difference between aging and maturing?
Aging is the neutral term for growing older, while maturing implies developing or improving with age. Wine can do both: it ages simply by getting older, and it matures when that time improves it. Applied to people, maturing points to growth in character or judgment rather than the passage of years.
Can aging be done deliberately?
Yes. Beyond the natural process of growing older, aging also refers to purposely making something look or become older. Furniture can be aged for a distressed antique look, and wine is aged in barrels or bottles to develop its flavor.
