ageless

IPA/ˈeɪdʒləs/
KK[ˈedʒləs]IPA/ˈeɪdʒləs/

ageless — adjective

  • agelesspositive
  • more agelesscomparative
  • most agelesssuperlative

1. used to describe a person whose physical appearance does not clearly change as t

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

used to describe a person whose physical appearance does not clearly change as they grow older, so that they seem to stay the same age for many years.

Example

At sixty-five, Mei had the ageless face of a woman half her age, with smooth skin and bright eyes.

attributive use: ageless + face

Omar's grandmother seemed ageless — her hair had no grey and her hands were steady and strong.

predicative use: seemed ageless

Common collocations
  • ageless face
  • ageless skin
  • ageless beauty
  • ageless appearance
  • look ageless
  • seem ageless
  • remain ageless
Synonyms
  • youthful

    focuses on looking young or having energy, while 'ageless' emphasises that a person's appearance does not change with age

  • well-preserved

    informal and often humorous; suggests that someone has taken good care of themselves

Antonyms
  • aged

    showing clear signs of growing old

Grammar Patterns

be ageless

an ageless + noun

Usage Note

Often pairs with nouns for physical features such as face, skin, eyes, or hands. Commonly used in both attributive position (an ageless face) and predicative position (she looked ageless).

Common Mistakes

The vampire was ageless and could not be killed.
The vampire was immortal and could not be killed.
'ageless' means not showing age, not being unable to die.

2. used to describe something that feels as if it exists outside the normal flow of

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

used to describe something that feels as if it exists outside the normal flow of time — it does not seem to belong to any particular era or period.

Example

The beauty of the Grand Canyon feels ageless, as if the rocks have looked the same for millions of years.

predicative: feels ageless + as if clause

Wei believed that certain pieces of music are ageless — they sound fresh to every new generation.

predicative: are ageless

Common collocations
  • ageless quality
  • ageless appeal
  • ageless theme
  • feel ageless
  • ageless art
  • ageless music
  • ageless beauty
Synonyms
  • timeless

    very close in meaning; 'ageless' slightly emphasises not being tied to any era

  • eternal

    more religious or philosophical; suggests no beginning or end

  • everlasting

    focuses on continuing forever rather than existing outside time

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be ageless

an ageless + noun

Usage Note

Applied to art, music, literature, ideas, or natural landscapes rather than people. The focus is on enduring quality or relevance across time, not physical appearance.

Common Mistakes

Scientists say the diamond is ageless because it never changes.
The old love story feels ageless, still moving readers today.
'ageless' describes an impression of timelessness, not physical permanence.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Youthful, well-preserved, and ageless all describe people who do not look old, but they differ in emphasis. Youthful focuses on having the energy or appearance of a young person — a sixty-year-old can look youthful without being ageless. Well-preserved is informal and often humorous, suggesting someone has taken good care of themselves. Ageless goes further, implying a person's appearance has not changed noticeably over decades, as if unaffected by time. For example: 'Her grandmother has an ageless quality — she looks the same at eighty as she did at fifty.' 'He is a youthful sixty-five, full of energy.' 'She is remarkably well-preserved for her age.'

youthful ↗well-preservedtimeless ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • seemingly ageless
  • virtually ageless

Etymology

Old FrenchLatinOld EnglishEnglish

Formed from the noun 'age' (from Old French 'aage', earlier 'eage', from Latin 'aetaticum', itself from 'aetas' meaning 'period of life') plus the suffix '-less' (from Old English '-lēas', meaning 'without, devoid of'). The word 'ageless' became common in English during the 19th century.