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adj B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

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."
2
Marked with a specific date, or fixed to happen on a particular day.
"She signed and dated the letter before sealing the envelope."

How to use dated

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word forms

more dated comparative, most dated superlative

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His slang sounds pretty _____ to anyone under twenty.

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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