age

1 of 3

noun

ˈāj 

1

a

: the time of life at which some particular qualification, power, or capacity arises or rests

the voting age is 18

specifically : majority

b

: one of the stages of life

c

: the length of an existence extending from the beginning to any given time

a boy 10 years of age

d

: lifetime

e

: an advanced stage of life

2

: a period of time dominated by a central figure or prominent feature

the age of Pericles

: such as

a

: a period in history or human progress

the age of reptiles

the age of exploration

b

: a cultural period marked by the prominence of a particular item

entering the atomic age

c

: a division of geologic time that is usually shorter than an epoch

3

a

: the period contemporary with a person's lifetime or with his or her active life

b

: a long time

—usually used in plural

haven't seen him in ages

c

: generation

4

: an individual's development measured in terms of the years requisite for like development of an average individual

age

2 of 3

verb

aged; aging or ageing

intransitive verb

1

: to become old : show the effects or the characteristics of increasing age

2

: to acquire a desirable quality (such as mellowness or ripeness) by standing undisturbed for some time

letting cheese age

transitive verb

1

: to cause to become old

2

: to bring to a state fit for use or to maturity

-age

3 of 3

noun suffix

1

: aggregate : collection

trackage

2

a

: action : process

haulage

b

: cumulative result of

breakage

c

: rate of

dosage

3

: house or place of

orphanage

4

: state : rank

peonage

5

: charge

postage

Synonyms

Noun

• day
• epoch
• era
• period
• time

Verb

• develop
• grow
• grow up
• mature
• progress
• ripen

Choose the Right Synonym for age

period, epoch, era, age mean a division of time.

period may designate an extent of time of any length.

periods of economic prosperity

epoch applies to a period begun or set off by some significant or striking quality, change, or series of events.

the steam engine marked a new epoch in industry

era suggests a period of history marked by a new or distinct order of things.

the era of global communications

age is used frequently of a fairly definite period dominated by a prominent figure or feature.

the age of Samuel Johnson

Examples of age in a Sentence

Noun

Some people are reluctant to reveal their ages.

She died tragically at a young age.

The treatment depends on the sex and age of the patient.

She died at the age of 90.

The movie appeals to people of all ages.

Their son needs to spend more time with children his own age.

They taught a group of children ranging in age from 8 to 11.

She joined the company at age 35.

The program is for people over age 50.

The car is in good condition for its age.

Verb

As he aged he grew more and more bitter.

You haven't aged a day since I saw you last!

His troubles have aged him.

Exposure to the sun has aged her skin.

The wine ages in oak barrels.

The wine is aged in oak barrels.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Since 2023, most retirees must take RMDs from pretax retirement accounts starting at age 73. —Kate Dore, Cfp®, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024

Jones, the legendary polymath who died at age 91 on Sunday, spent a lifetime making music like this—music that defined its era by transcending it. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

At the New Ground Estate in London, 26 residents are making history -- living at the first and only co-housing community in the United Kingdom dedicated to women aged 50 and over. —Sarah Prazmark, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024

Residents aged 16 and older are eligible for an annual subsidy of more than 20,000 yuan (about $2,800), state media reported. —Simone McCarthy, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French aage, age (earlier Old French edage, eage), from eé, aé "age, lifetime" (going back to Latin aetāt-, aetās, contraction of earlier aevitās, from aevum "time, lifetime" + -itāt-, -itās -ity) + -age -age — more at aye entry 3

Verb

Middle English agen, derivative of age age entry 1

Noun suffix

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin -āticum (as in viāticum "provision for a journey"), neuter of -āticus, adjective suffix of appurtenance, perhaps originally from -āt- (from past participles of first conjugation verbs, as in vēnāticus "used for hunting," from vēnātus, past participle of vēnārī "to hunt") + -icus -ic entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing age

• act one's age
• advanced in age/years
• age difference
• age-group
• age limit
• age-mate
• age of consent
• age of reason
• age-old
• age-related macular degeneration
• age spots
• at an advanced age
• at/from an early age
• at one's age
• at the age of
• at the tender age
• chronological age
• come of age
• coming-of-age
• coon's age
• dark age
• drinking age
• feel one's age
• for one's age
• golden age
• half someone's age
• ice age
• in a coon's age
• in a dog's age
• in one's old age
• in this day and age
• legal age
• mental age
• middle age
• new age
• of a certain age
• of advanced age/years
• of age
• old age
• (one's) age is catching up to one
• on the right side of (an age)
• on the wrong side of (an age)
• ripe old age
• school-age
• silver age
• space-age
• tender (young) age

Kids Definition

age

1 of 3 noun

ˈāj 

1

a

: the time of life when a person attains some right or capacity

the voting age is 18

especially : majority sense 1

come of age

b

: the time from birth to a specified date

a child six years of age

c

: normal lifetime

d

: the later part of life

youth and age

2

: a period of time associated with a particular person or thing

machine age

the age of exploration

3

: a long period of time

did it ages ago

age

2 of 3 verb

aged; aging or ageing

1

: to become or cause to become old or old in appearance

his troubles aged him

2

: to become or cause to become mellow or mature : ripen

letting cheese age

-age

3 of 3 noun suffix

ij

1

: total amount : collection

mileage

2

a

: action : process

coverage

b

: result of

breakage

c

: rate of

dosage

3

: house or place of

orphanage

4

: state : status

bondage

5

: fee : charge

postage

Etymology

Noun suffix

Middle English -age "collection," from early French -age (same meaning), from Latin -aticum, suffix of mass and abstract nouns

Medical Definition

age

1 of 2 noun

ˈāj 

1

a

: the part of life from birth to a given time

a child 10 years of age

b

: the time or part of life at which some particular event, qualification, or capacity arises, occurs, or is lost

of reproductive age

age of onset

see middle age

c

: an advanced stage of life

2

: an individual's development measured in terms of the years requisite for like development of an average individual

a child of 7 with a mental age of 10

see binet age, mental age

age

2 of 2 verb

aged; aging or ageing

intransitive verb

: to become old : show the effects or the characteristics of increasing age

transitive verb

: to cause to become old

Legal Definition

age

noun

: the time of life at which some particular qualification, power, or capacity arises

the voting age is 18

see also legal age, majority