Word
oldest
Phoneticsold·est, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈoʊɫdəst/
UK/ˈəʊldəst/
Definitions
01greatest in age
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.
“This is the oldest building in the city, built over four hundred years ago.”
“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'.
Synonyms
02the first-born child
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
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.
“As the oldest of four children, she often had to look after her younger brothers.”
“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'
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “oldest” in context.
- 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.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL 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: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/oldest