Skip to main content
age-old

age-old

38 4.2
Very old and present for a long time
  • adjective
  • /ˈeɪdʒˌoʊld/
: ancestral
  • Many age-old traditions are celebrated during the winter holidays.
  • an age-old question
  • an age-old problem
  • an age-old quest

I gather you here to answer the age-old question.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • My fellow citizens, this mission will travel clear across the cosmos... where we hope to finally answer the age-old question: "Is there intelligent life out there?"

  • I think I've found a solution to an age-old problem.

  • Think of it as an age-old process.

  • I think I made the age-old mistake: "Never trust a beautiful woman."

  • This next act answers the age-old question.

  • Families can finally obtain an answer to the age-old question: "What did you learn in school today?"

    Academic text (2012)
  • And so she fell back upon the age-old cry of parents everywhere, in every generation.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • I gather you here to answer the age-old question.

  • We're dealing here with the age-old conflict between reason and emotion.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Making choices about the depth and breadth of a curriculum is an age-old problem.

    Academic text (1994)

Synonyms

ancient
vsage-old
∞ 3.4

Very old and from a long time ago

applies specifically to longstanding customs rather than distant origins
traditional
vsage-old
994 1.5

Following long-held customs and ways of doing things

focuses more on long duration and ancient origin of customs
old
vsage-old
908 6.1

Relating to a very early stage in a language, period, or culture

highlights long continuity of customs rather than simply early historical stage
longstanding
vsage-old
39 4.3

Lasting for a long time

is used especially for traditions and customs rather than any long thing
venerable
vsage-old
  • Formal
29 7.5

Worthy of deep respect because of old age or good character

refers to long continuing customs rather than praising age or worth
time-honored
vsage-old
19 4.7

Valued and kept because people have done it for a long time

emphasizes long existence of customs rather than respect or value
old-time
vsage-old
18 6.7

Like music or clothes from a past time that feel warm and familiar

describes long existence of customs rather than charming old style
olden
vsage-old
  • Archaic
16 9.6

From a time long ago when life was different

is about traditions that have continued for a very long time
old-line
vsage-old
  • US
3 7.2

Beliefs and ways that people in a family or group keep for a long time

is broader, applying to traditions and customs beyond institutions
hoary
vsage-old
  • Literature
3 9.9

Exists for a very long time, often about traditions, stories, or ideas

stresses enduring age of traditions rather than their respected status

Antonyms

new
∞ 1.0

Recently made or found and not seen before

∞ 1.4

Relating to the present time and new ways of doing things

How Old

prehistoric
47 5.2
ancient
∞ 3.4
age-old
38 4.2
old
∞ 1.0
long-standing
45 4.1

Surface Forms

age-old positive

Morphology

age-old = age + old (transparent) = age + old

This is a straightforward compound whose meaning is directly inferable from 'age' + 'old'.

Etymology

The word age-old is made from the simple parts age and old, so it literally means 'from a long time ago' or 'very old'. That's why we call traditions, questions, or fears age-old when they have lasted for a very long time.