ENGLISH
REFERENCE

oldest

adj. · n.
US //ˈoʊɫdəst// UK //ˈəʊldəst// old·est
  1. 1 greatest in age (adj.)
    A1 Beginner

    having lived or existed for the longest time.

    the superlative degree of 'old', denoting the maximum age or duration of existence within a set.

    Example

    This is the oldest building in the city, built over four hundred years ago.

    Example

    Archaeologists recently discovered the oldest known fragments of pottery in the region, dating back to the early Neolithic period.
    Pitfall
    He is the most old person in the room.
    He is the oldest person in the room.

    For one-syllable adjectives like 'old', use the '-est' ending to make the superlative form instead of using 'most'.

  2. 2 the first-born child (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the person in a group or family who was born first.

    the individual possessing the greatest age among a specific cohort, typically siblings.

    Example

    As the oldest of four children, she often had to look after her younger brothers.

    Example

    Being the oldest in the family often carries a sense of responsibility that the younger siblings do not necessarily share.

    Usage

    often used with the definite article 'the'

© 2026 English Reference