old

The word “old” means having existed for a long time; not new or young. In plain terms, the basic word for something or someone that has existed a long time, or that is a previous version of something.

“Old” is pronounced ohld (/ˈoʊld/ in IPA).

Here is “old” used in a sentence: “The old house had stood on the corner for over a century.”

Words with a similar meaning to “old” include ancient, long in the tooth, paleo-, ageing, aging and elderly.

The opposite of “old” — its antonyms — are brand new, fresh, new, neo- and ceno-.

Depending on how it is used, “old” can be an adjective and a noun.

The word “old” comes from Old English. From Old English eald/ald ("aged, ancient"), going back through Proto-Germanic to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "grown, tall" — the same deep root that gives us "elder" and "eld".

“Old” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

'Old' simply means having existed for a long time — 'an old house,' 'old shoes.' 'Ancient' is far stronger, pointing to the distant past, often thousands of years ago — 'ancient Rome,' 'ancient ruins.' Everything ancient is old, but most old things are not ancient. 'Ancient' adds a sense of great age and history.

It depends on the meaning. For the age of a person or living thing, the opposite is 'young.' For objects and ideas, the opposite is 'new.' An old man contrasts with a young man; an old phone contrasts with a new phone. 'Old' can be measured against either, so context decides.

It can feel blunt when applied to a person, which is why gentler terms like 'older,' 'elderly,' or 'senior' are often preferred in polite speech. Describing objects as old is perfectly neutral. For people, tone and word choice matter, since 'old' can sound dismissive if used carelessly.