How do you use "old" in a sentence?

How old is this building? We're old friends from university. My grandmother is ninety years old.

old

Q: What does "old" mean?

Having lived for many years; former; of a specified age 'Old' describes age, long existence, or former status. 'How old' asks about age; 'old friend' can mean long-standing or former; 'the good old days' refers nostalgically to the past; 'old-fashioned' means outdated. 'Old' can be affectionate ('the old chap').

Vocabulary Word BritishAmerican ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Having lived for many years; former; of a specified age

老的，旧的，年龄

viejo, antiguo, edad

古い、年老いた、歳

오래된, 나이 든, ~세

'Old' describes age, long existence, or former status. 'How old' asks about age; 'old friend' can mean long-standing or former; 'the good old days' refers nostalgically to the past; 'old-fashioned' means outdated. 'Old' can be affectionate ('the old chap').

「old」描述年龄、长期存在或以前的状态。「how old」询问年龄；「old friend」可以指长期的或以前的朋友；「the good old days」怀念过去。

«Old» describe edad, existencia prolongada o estatus anterior. «How old» pregunta por la edad; «old friend» puede significar de larga data o antiguo; «the good old days» se refiere nostálgicamente al pasado.

「old」は年齢、長期間の存在、または以前の状態を表します。「how old」は年齢を尋ねます。「old friend」は長年の友人または元友人を意味できます。

'Old'는 나이, 오래된 존재, 또는 이전의 상태를 나타냅니다. 'How old'는 나이를 물을 때, 'old friend'는 오랜 또는 이전의 친구, 'the good old days'는 옛 시절을 그리워하며, 'old-fashioned'은 구식을 의미합니다. 'Old'는 친근하게 쓸 수도 있습니다('the old chap').

Examples

How old is this building?
这座建筑有多少年了？
¿Cuántos años tiene este edificio?
この建物は何年経っていますか？
이 건물은 지은 지 얼마나 되었나요?
We're old friends from university.
我们是大学时的老朋友。
Somos viejos amigos de la universidad.
私たちは大学時代からの古い友人だ。
우리는 대학 시절부터의 오랜 친구다.
My grandmother is ninety years old.
我祖母九十岁了。
Mi abuela tiene noventa años.
祖母は90歳です。
할머니는 아흔 살이시다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: general

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old English 'eald' (also 'ald'), from Proto-Germanic '*aldaz' meaning 'grown up'. Related to 'elder' and 'alderman'. The word itself is ironically one of the oldest in the English language, traceable to Proto-Indo-European '*al-' (to grow).

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

old

Examples

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Origin & History

Cultural Context

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