age

The number of years someone has lived or something has existed.

• What is your age?
• The children are all the same age.
• We do not know the exact age of the building.

How to use it: at the age of + number (She learned to swim at the age of six.); the same age as someone (My brother is the same age as you.)

Similar words: years

Common phrases: at your age, the same age, age five, school age

A long period of history known for particular events, ideas, or ways of life.

• We live in a digital age.
• Dinosaurs lived in a different age.
• The town enjoyed a golden age of trade.

How to use it: the age of something (These tools date from the age of steam.)

Similar words: era, period, epoch

Common phrases: the stone age, the digital age, a golden age

The state of being old, or the later part of life.

• His hair turned white with age.
• She remained active into old age.
• Age had weakened the wooden door.

Similar words: old age

Opposites: youth

Common phrases: old age, with age, advancing age

A stage of life, such as childhood or the years when someone is fully grown.

• Middle age brought him new confidence.
• She is at an age when friends matter most.
• Different ages of life bring different worries.

How to use it: the age of + life stage (Play matters during the age of childhood.)

Similar words: life stage

Common phrases: middle age, a difficult age, age of infancy

To grow older or begin to look older.

• Everyone ages.
• His father has aged quickly this year.
• Does too much sun make your skin age faster?

Similar words: grow older, get older

Common phrases: age gracefully, age quickly, age well

To leave food or drink for some time so its taste or quality develops.

• They age their cheese slowly.
• We aged the wine in wooden barrels.
• How long do you age this whiskey?

How to use it: age something for a period (They age the cheese for six months.); age something in something (The maker ages the whiskey in oak barrels.)

Similar words: mature

Common phrases: age wine, age in barrels, age cheese

To seem better or worse as time passes and people look at it again.

• That joke has aged badly.
• Her predictions have aged surprisingly well.
• Will this film age as well as her earlier work?

Similar words: hold up

Common phrases: age well, age badly, age poorly

To change something so it looks older than it really is.

• They aged the wood with paint.
• The artist ages paper using tea.
• Can you age this frame to match the old mirror?

Similar words: distress, weather

Common phrases: age the wood, age a surface, artificially age something