Old Definition & Meaning
old
- adjective
- (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age; "his mother is very old"; "a ripe old age"; "how old are you?"
- of long duration; not new; "old tradition"; "old house"; "old wine"; "old country"; "old friendships"; "old money"
- (used for emphasis) very familiar; "good old boy"; "same old story"
- skilled through long experience; "an old offender"; "the older soldiers"
- belonging to some prior time; "erstwhile friend"; "our former glory"; "the once capital of the state"; "her quondam lover"
- (used informally especially for emphasis); "a real honest-to- god live cowboy"; "had us a high old time"; "went upriver to look at a sure-enough fish wheel"
- of a very early stage in development; "Old English is also called Anglo Saxon"; "Old High German is High German from the middle of the 9th to the end of the 11th century"
- just preceding something else in time or order; "the previous owner"; "my old house was larger"
- noun
- past times (especially in the phrase `in days of old')
"Old" in song lyrics
See how old is used in real songs:
-
"Son, I quote from the bricks, life's four years old"
1.4.0. Productions f/ Lenore, Shawn Wigs — Yesterday -
"Skeetin' is for the young and old"
2 Live Crew — Skeeta Man -
"C.D.'s getting sold, drug selling getting old"
50/50 Twin f/ Archie Lee, Lester Roy — Hollyhood
Words that rhyme with old
Usage tips for "old"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "old" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for old to find words that pair well.