| English Dictionary |
OLDER
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does older mean?
• OLDER (adjective)
The adjective OLDER has 3 senses:
1. advanced in years; ('aged' is pronounced as two syllables)
2. used of the older of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a father from his son
3. skilled through long experience
Familiarity information: OLDER used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Advanced in years; ('aged' is pronounced as two syllables)
Synonyms:
Context example:
senior citizen
Similar:
old ((used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Used of the older of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a father from his son
Synonyms:
Context example:
Bill Adams, Sr.
Similar:
senior (older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Skilled through long experience
Synonyms:
old; older
Context example:
the older soldiers
Similar:
experienced; experient (having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation)
Context examples
To have strong bones when you are young, and to prevent bone loss when you are older, you need to get enough calcium, vitamin D and exercise.
(Bone Diseases, NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
But it was stationary; and as the gentleman advanced into the light, I saw that he was some years older than when he had had his picture painted.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
It is more common in women and older adults.
(Bowel Incontinence, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Some stay the same or get worse as you get older.
(Birthmarks, NIH)
Many children wet the bed until they are 5 or even older.
(Bedwetting, NIH)
The patches often occur on sun-exposed areas of the skin and in older white men.
(Bowen disease, NCI Dictionary)
As people grow older, it may take longer to retrieve those files.
(Memory, NIH: National Institute on Aging)
When he ventured to run abreast of the older wolf (which was seldom), a snarl and a snap sent him back even with the shoulder again.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
It is most common in older people and in people with weakened immune systems.
(Merkel cell cancer, NCI Dictionary)
It usually occurs in people aged 65 years or older.
(CHF, NCI Dictionary)
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