Another Word for Old: 19 Synonyms with Examples
“Old” can describe age, the past, or something worn or out of date. Choose a word that matches the shade of meaning and the tone.
As an adjective: having lived for a long time
- elderly
- aged
- older
- senior
- ageing
As an adjective: belonging to the past
- ancient
- former
- previous
- historic
- bygone
- past
- earlier
As an adjective: out of date or worn
- outdated
- obsolete
- old-fashioned
- worn
- antiquated
- dated
- shabby
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How they differ
Synonyms share a meaning, not always a tone. Here is when to pick each of the main options.
- elderly
- Polite term for old people.
- ancient
- Very old, often thousands of years; informal for exaggeration.
- former
- Previous, rather than old: a former colleague.
- obsolete
- No longer used because something better exists.
- old-fashioned
- No longer in style; can be affectionate.
Example sentences
- elderly: The volunteers visit elderly residents every week.
- ancient: The ancient walls still surround the city.
- former: He met a former teacher at the station.
- obsolete: Fax machines are almost obsolete.
- old-fashioned: The café has a charming, old-fashioned feel.
Opposite of old
- new
- young
- modern
- recent
Frequently asked questions
What is another word for “old”?
The most useful alternatives are “elderly”, “aged”, “older”, “senior”, “ageing”. For the main sense (having lived for a long time), “elderly” is usually the closest swap.
What is the difference between “elderly” and “ancient”?
elderly: Polite term for old people. ancient: Very old, often thousands of years; informal for exaggeration.
What is the opposite of “old”?
Common antonyms are “new”, “young”, “modern”, “recent”.