age

1 of 3

noun

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
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
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
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 ripe old age of 90. The movie appeals to people of all ages. Their son needs to spend more time with children his own age. a group of children ranging in age from 8 to 11 The program is for people over age 50. groups of people classified by race and 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
Last year, Chinese regulators introduced a rule that would limit children under age 18 to two hours of smartphone screen time each day. Max Zahn, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2024 Last year, the city asked the California Housing Partnership, a nonprofit affordable housing consultant, to develop a plan for a dozen of Skid Row Housing Trust’s oldest properties that, due to their age and conditions, were unlikely to find other nonprofit landlords willing to take them over. Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 The city is using it to forecast breakdowns in its water and stormwater systems, based on factors such as age and condition of infrastructure, soil materials, and previous failures. Nick Rockel, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2024 The card features six categories: grade, gender, age, and reasons for attending (including actors and subject), plus two questions about buying or renting the movie in the future. Richard Sandomir, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024 All five said that Pierce, nearly double their age and fresh off headline-grabbing spots on the silver screen and awards-show red carpets, drank with them through the late hours of the night and into the morning. Ben Shimkus, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2024 Quits have returned to normal but openings and hires remain elevated as baby boomers age and hospitals and doctors’ offices struggle to find skilled workers. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024 The name and age of the victim will be released by the Medical Examiner’s Office pending notification of his family. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2024 Join Meghan every other Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET, for a live chat to answer questions from parents trying to raise kids of any age. Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024
Verb
As indicated in the 2023 data, Kentucky saw 490 deaths per 100,000 people age 75 or younger. Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 20 Mar. 2024 Maestro Dobel 1968 was first matured in American oak and then finished in barrels used to age Armagnac, a type of French brandy. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2024 As the years pass, aging parents require care as well. Jasmine Li, Fortune, 18 Mar. 2024 Related article Engagement ring sales are down sharply, according to America’s biggest jeweler The largest cohort of Millennials is aging, and the newer, smaller generations (Gen Z and Gen Alpha) place less importance on having a big wedding, said McMurray. Samantha Delouya, CNN, 17 Mar. 2024 Everest’s birth made Lucas a father for the fourth time, aged 69. Emma Kershaw, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024 Allen’s game — based on superior technique and route running — has aged well at the NFL level. Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 For example, 18% of survey respondents provide care for a non-spouse adult such as an aging parent. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 14 Mar. 2024 Luengo says mismanagement and aging infrastructure play a huge role in the current crisis, noting that the city loses 40% of its water supply due to leaks in the pipes. Emily Green, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'age.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of age was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near age

Cite this Entry

“Age.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/age. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

age

1 of 3 noun
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
Age of Discovery
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
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

More from Merriam-Webster on age

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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