olden
Olden (adj) means belonging to an earlier, often romanticized, era; used mainly in the phrase "olden days". Example: “Grandad loved telling stories about the olden days.”
How to use olden
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA slightly poetic or old-fashioned way to say "of long ago" — mostly survives in the set phrase "the olden days".
The adjective is mostly limited to "olden days/times"; the verb use is rare and literary.
Word forms
oldened past tense, Oldens plural, oldens singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Grandad loved telling stories about the _____ days.
Etymology
From Middle English olden, originally a form of "old" that later came to be read as "old" plus the suffix "-en".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for olden
See all rhymes for olden →Frequently asked questions
What does “olden” mean?
The word “olden” means belonging to an earlier, often romanticized, era; used mainly in the phrase "olden days". In plain terms, a slightly poetic or old-fashioned way to say "of long ago" — mostly survives in the set phrase "the olden days".
How do you pronounce “olden”?
“Olden” is pronounced OHL-dn (/ˈoʊldn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “olden” in a sentence?
Here is “olden” used in a sentence: “Grandad loved telling stories about the olden days.”
What is another word for “olden”?
Words with a similar meaning to “olden” include historical and eldern.
What is the opposite of “olden”?
The opposite of “olden” — its antonyms — is youngen.
What part of speech is “olden”?
Depending on how it is used, “olden” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “olden” come from?
The word “olden” comes from Middle English. From Middle English olden, originally a form of "old" that later came to be read as "old" plus the suffix "-en".
How many meanings does “olden” have?
“Olden” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: belonging to an earlier, often romanticized, era; used mainly in the phrase "olden days".