dated
DAY-tihd
Dated (adj) means No longer fashionable or up to date; feeling old-fashioned. Example: “His slang sounds pretty dated to anyone under twenty.”
adj
1
No longer fashionable or up to date; feeling old-fashioned.
"His slang sounds pretty dated to anyone under twenty."
"The office decor felt dated, all beige carpet and fax machines."
"The film's special effects look rather dated now, but the story still works."
2
Marked with a specific date, or fixed to happen on a particular day.
"She signed and dated the letter before sealing the envelope."
"The cheque was dated for the first day of next month."
"Please bring a signed and dated copy of the form to the interview."
How to use dated
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "has an actual date written on it" or "feels old and out of style now."
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "dated someone" (went out with them romantically) — same spelling, totally different meaning depending on context.
Common pairings
feel dated
a dated reference
clearly dated
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more dated
- Superlative
- most dated
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His slang sounds pretty _____ to anyone under twenty.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for dated
See all rhymes for dated →Frequently asked questions
What does “dated” mean?
The word “dated” means no longer fashionable or up to date; feeling old-fashioned. In plain terms, either "has an actual date written on it" or "feels old and out of style now.".
How do you pronounce “dated”?
“Dated” is pronounced DAY-tihd (/ˈdeɪtɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “dated” in a sentence?
Here is “dated” used in a sentence: “His slang sounds pretty dated to anyone under twenty.”
What is another word for “dated”?
Words with a similar meaning to “dated” include old-fashioned, retro and old hat.
What is the opposite of “dated”?
The opposite of “dated” — its antonyms — are undated, up-to-date, current, a la mode and trendy.
What part of speech is “dated”?
“Dated” is an adjective.
Is “dated” a common word?
“Dated” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “dated” have?
“Dated” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: no longer fashionable or up to date; feeling old-fashioned.
What is the difference between "dated" and "old-fashioned"?
Both mean no longer fashionable, but dated suggests something clearly belongs to a recent past period and now feels behind the times. Old-fashioned can be more neutral or even affectionate, sometimes describing traditional styles that people choose on purpose.
What is the difference between "dated" and "vintage"?
Dated usually carries a negative tone, implying something looks stale or out of touch. Vintage is generally positive, describing older items valued for their quality or classic style, so a jacket can be admired as vintage but criticized as dated.
What are common collocations with "dated"?
In the fashion sense, common pairings include looks dated, feels dated, and slightly dated. In the neutral sense you see phrases like dated and signed, and "a check dated for next week."
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