old
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
How often you will meet it
Rank 90 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 273,332 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.130% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 100 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
adjective
- (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age his mother is very olda ripe old age
- of long duration; not new old traditionold house
- (used for emphasis) very familiar good old boysame old story
- skilled through long experience also: older an old offenderthe older soldiers
- belonging to some prior time also: erstwhile, former, onetime, one-time, quondam, sometime erstwhile friendour former glory
- very good also: bang-up, bully, corking, cracking, dandy, great he did a bully joba neat sports car
old in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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Gloria recognized it as an old sight-acquaintance.
Gloria and Treeless Street · Annie Hamilton Donnell · Chapter 1
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The others are to be sung to old airs that are presumably familiar to everyone.
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1
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By the old road of music he had found his way to the hearts of many.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1
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He was not above twelve years old, fair, blue-eyed, and kind in temper to every living thing.
Famous Stories Every Child Should Know · Hamilton Wright [Editor] Mabie · Chapter 1
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The old man spoke sternly and the boy stopped, flushed and angry, and a moment later slipped from the room.
The Heart of the Hills · John, Jr. Fox · Chapter 1