Word
adage
US/ˈædədʒ/
UK/ˈædɪdʒ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a short, well-known saying that expresses a general truth about life. You use it to share a piece of wisdom that people have believed for a long time.
n. a traditional saying or proverb that expresses a common experience or observation. Often carries a sense of historical authority or folk wisdom.
Examples
“He remembered the old adage that patience is a virtue.”
“The coach often repeated the adage that there is no 'I' in team to encourage better cooperation.”
“While modern technology has changed how we communicate, the ancient adage that 'actions speak louder than words' remains a fundamental principle in evaluating human character.”
Examples
simple
“He remembered the old adage that patience is a virtue.”
contextual
“The coach often repeated the adage that there is no 'I' in team to encourage better cooperation.”
complex
“While modern technology has changed how we communicate, the ancient adage that 'actions speak louder than words' remains a fundamental principle in evaluating human character.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “adage” in context.
Verb
01. adage goes
“As the old adage goes, 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'.”
noun + verb
02. adage holds
“The adage still holds true in today's digital economy.”
noun + verb
03. adage warns
“The adage warns against making hasty decisions under pressure.”
noun + verb
04. cite adage
“The lawyer cited the old adage to illustrate his point to the jury.”
verb + noun
05. disprove adage
“Modern science has managed to disprove the adage that you can't teach an old dog new tricks.”
verb + noun
06. recall adage
“I often recall the adage my grandfather used to repeat every morning.”
verb + noun
Adjective
07. ancient adage
“The ancient adage suggests that time heals all wounds.”
adj + noun
08. familiar adage
“He reminded the team of the familiar adage that practice makes perfect.”
adj + noun
09. proverbial adage
“She lived her life according to the proverbial adage about honesty.”
adj + noun
10. as the old adage goes
“As the old adage goes, you should never judge a book by its cover.”
11. live by the adage
“She chose to live by the adage that kindness costs nothing.”
12. prove the truth of the adage
“His sudden success served to prove the truth of the adage about hard work.”
Usage
Often preceded by adjectives like 'old', 'ancient', or 'well-known'.
Real-World Examples
“There is an adage in the financial world: The stock market is not the economy.” “An adage embodies this idea: If it is worth doing then it is worth doing slowly.” “Defining a proverb isn’t easy, but like pornography, most people believe they know it when they see it. Generally, it’s an older saying without a known author that’s considered wise. Proverbs have many names: they can be called axioms, old saws, sayings and adages.” “In like manner, another cluster of adages depict the certainty of the detection and punishment of crime: — “Murder will out”; “Justice has feet of wool, but hands of iron”; “God’s mills grind slow, but they grind sure.” Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French adage, from Latin adā̆gium.
A clipping of Italian adagio, the musical direction meaning "at ease," which itself derives from Latin ad- + agius, easy. The word entered English in the sixteenth century as a maxim or proverb, having shed its musical tempo and its final syllable alike.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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