noun
Common
oldest
OHL-duhst
Oldest (noun) means the person or thing that has existed longest among a group, especially the eldest child in a family. Example: “The oldest of the four cousins was already at university.”
noun
1
The person or thing that has existed longest among a group, especially the eldest child in a family.
"The oldest of the four cousins was already at university."
"My grandmother's clock is the oldest in the shop, and everyone admires it."
"As the oldest, she always looked after her younger brothers."
How to use oldest
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe one who has been around longest — most often used for the firstborn child in a family.
Common pairings
the oldest of three
oldest child
oldest sibling
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Word forms
- Plural
- oldests
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The _____ of the four cousins was already at university.
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Frequently asked questions
What does “oldest” mean?
The word “oldest” means the person or thing that has existed longest among a group, especially the eldest child in a family. In plain terms, the one who has been around longest — most often used for the firstborn child in a family.
How do you pronounce “oldest”?
“Oldest” is pronounced OHL-duhst (/ˈoʊldəst/ in IPA).
How do you use “oldest” in a sentence?
Here is “oldest” used in a sentence: “As the oldest, she always looked after her younger brothers.”
What part of speech is “oldest”?
“Oldest” is a noun.
Is “oldest” a common word?
“Oldest” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "oldest" and "eldest"?
Both are superlatives, but eldest is used mainly for people, especially birth order among siblings, while oldest can describe people or things. You can have the oldest building, but only the eldest child.
What is the difference between "older" and "oldest"?
Older is the comparative, used when comparing two things, as in "the older of the two brothers," while oldest is the superlative, used for three or more, as in "the oldest of five children." Oldest marks the extreme end of a group.
When should you say "oldest" instead of "eldest"?
Use oldest for things and for people in general, and reserve eldest mainly for family birth order, as in "my eldest sister." In American English, oldest is commonly used even for siblings.
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