Synonyms for

Oldest

Verb / ˈəʊldʌst / Another word for oldest — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

having lived or existed for a long time; having the highest age in a group

Synonyms & similar words

onetime previous former young sometime honesttogod erstwhile older honesttogoodness sureenough old quondam new senior elderly mature ancient venerable hoary antediluvian primordial time-honored timeless traditional age-old long-established well-established established long-standing long-running long-lived long-lasting enduring

Synonyms by register

Formal

primeval ancient original earliest

Informal

first original senior

Literary

venerable hoary primordial

Antonyms

youngest newest recent modern junior infant

Common collocations

  • oldest living
  • oldest son
  • oldest child
  • oldest member
  • oldest city
  • oldest tree
  • oldest person

Word family

noun old age
adjective old
adverb oldly

Usage note

Oldest is the superlative form of 'old'. It refers to the greatest age or the earliest period. Be careful not to confuse it with 'elder' or 'eldest' when referring to people within a family, where 'eldest' is typically preferred for the absolute oldest.

Example sentences

  1. The oldest tree in the park is over 500 years old.
  2. Grandpa is the oldest person in our town.
  3. The oldest building in the city is a museum now.
  4. The oldest book in the library is from the 16th century.
  5. The oldest car in the exhibition is from the 1920s.

Quotes

  • Old is always fifteen years from now.
  • Age considers; youth ventures.
  • The old believe everything; the middle-aged suspect everything; the young know everything.

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