English Word Old Meaning and Definition

Word of the Day: Old

Use the word “old” when talking about the age of a person or a thing:

The word “old” is also used as the opposite of young or new.

That bread is old. Throw it out.
My car is so old. It’s time to think about buying something to replace it.
Rob is 67, but he doesn’t feel old.
Sara is 18 and too old to play with dolls.
The old man who lives next door is moving to an assisted living facility.
Mathilda feels like an old fogy at work because everyone is twenty years younger than she is. (old fogy = an old person)

You can use “old” to describe a previous relationship or location.

I went out with some old friends from college last night. (old friends = people whom you have known for a long time, but they might not be “old.”)
Bob got a recommendation from his old boss. (old boss = previous boss)
Ellen is still in love with her old boyfriend. (old boyfriend = previous boyfriend)
This is where our old school was located. Now it’s gone and replaced by an apartment building.
Svetlana and Sergei live in the U.S. but they’ve kept their daily habits as they were in the old country. (old country = the place they come from)

The word “old” appears in some expressions and slang:

Out with the old, in with the new. (It’s time for something new.)
This daily commute is getting old. (I’m tired of this.)
Those were the good old days. (a good time in the past)
They’re part of the old boy network. (old boy network = a group of men who are in charge of things)
Jose borrowed a car from his old man. (old man = father)
Alex is taking his old lady out to dinner tonight. (old lady = girlfriend or wife)

Visit the Popular English Words Beginning with O page to see the list of all words starting with letter O. For seeing the HiCafe dictionary, visit the Popular English Words with Meaning page.