oldest
- 01 A1 Beginner
adj.having lived or existed for the longest time.
adj.the superlative degree of 'old', denoting the maximum age or duration of existence within a set.
Simple“This is the oldest building in the city, built over four hundred years ago.”
In context“Archaeologists recently discovered the oldest known fragments of pottery in the region, dating back to the early Neolithic period.”
PitfallHe 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'.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.the person in a group or family who was born first.
n.the individual possessing the greatest age among a specific cohort, typically siblings.
Simple“As the oldest of four children, she often had to look after her younger brothers.”
In context“Being the oldest in the family often carries a sense of responsibility that the younger siblings do not necessarily share.”
Usageoften used with the definite article 'the'
Usage oldest world · oldest known