adj
Very common
older
OHL-duh
Older (adj) means Comparative form of "old"; greater in age or having existed longer. Example: “Her older sister taught her how to ride a bike.”
adj
1
Comparative form of "old"; greater in age or having existed longer.
"Her older sister taught her how to ride a bike."
"My older brother just turned thirty."
"This is an older model than the one we bought last year."
"My older brother and I are Catholic twins. He’s older by eleven months, not quite a year older than me."
How to use older
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe comparative of "old" — used to say one thing or person has more years or history than another.
Common mistake
Use "older" (not "more old") for the comparative — "older" is already the correct form.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
older sibling
older generation
older model
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Word forms
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Her _____ sister taught her how to ride a bike.
Etymology
A variant of Alder.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for older
See all rhymes for older →Frequently asked questions
What does “older” mean?
The word “older” means comparative form of "old"; greater in age or having existed longer. In plain terms, the comparative of "old" — used to say one thing or person has more years or history than another.
How do you pronounce “older”?
“Older” is pronounced OHL-duh (/ˈoʊldɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “older” in a sentence?
Here is “older” used in a sentence: “My older brother just turned thirty.”
What part of speech is “older”?
“Older” is an adjective.
Is “older” a common word?
“Older” is a very common word in modern English.
What is the difference between older and elder?
'Older' is the general comparative of old and works for people and things alike, usually with 'than' — 'she is older than me,' 'an older building.' 'Elder' applies mainly to people, especially seniority within a family or group — 'my elder sister' — and is not followed by 'than.'
What is the difference between older and oldest?
'Older' is comparative, comparing two things — 'the older of the two brothers.' 'Oldest' is superlative, singling one out from three or more — 'the oldest of five children.' Use older when weighing two, and oldest when one tops the whole group in age.
What is the opposite of older?
For people and ages, the opposite of older is younger — lower in age. For things, 'newer' often fits better, as in a newer car or a newer building. Which one you choose depends on whether you're comparing how long someone has lived or how recently something was made.
Is it 'older than' or 'older then'?
It's 'older than.' 'Than' is used for comparisons — 'he is older than her.' 'Then' refers to time or sequence — 'we ate, then left' — and never follows a comparative. Mixing them up is a common slip, but comparisons always take 'than.'
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