eldest
/ˈeldɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈeldɪst/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈel-dəst/ (ame, mw) · /ˈel.dɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈel.dɪst/ (ame, ipa)
eldest — adjective
- eldestpositive
- more eldestcomparative
- most eldestsuperlative
1. being the person with the greatest age among three or more siblings or family me
being the person with the greatest age among three or more siblings or family members — for example, the child who was born first in a family with three children.
Andrei is the eldest of three brothers in his family.
As the eldest sibling, Zuri often helps her younger sisters with homework.
eldest + noun phrase describing family role
The eldest daughter of the Wei family studies medicine at a university.
Ramón's eldest brother drives a bus for the city transit system.
In large families, the eldest child often helps look after the younger ones.
- oldest
broader term that works for people and things; 'oldest' is neutral while 'eldest' is specifically for family
- first-born
emphasises order of birth rather than age; slightly more formal or literary
- most senior
used for rank or position rather than family; often in professional contexts
- youngest
the direct opposite in birth order
文法句型
the + eldest + noun
possessive + eldest + noun
eldest + of + plural noun
用法筆記
Use 'eldest' only for family members (siblings, children). For non-family contexts — buildings, objects, or general groups of people — use 'oldest' instead. Also requires at least three people; for a family with only two children, use 'older' or 'elder'.
常見錯誤
eldest — noun
1. someone who ranks first by age among at least three people in a family or other
someone who ranks first by age among at least three people in a family or other group — for instance, the cousin at a reunion who has the highest age.
Of the five cousins, Madison is the eldest.
the eldest as predicate complement after linking verb
Nora is the eldest among the volunteers who joined the project.
eldest among + group noun
As the eldest of the group, Sivan was asked to lead the discussion.
The eldest in the team was given the job of training the new members.
- oldest person
more general and can be used for things; 'eldest' is restricted to people
- senior member
focuses on rank or tenure rather than age alone
文法句型
the + eldest
the + eldest + among/of + group
用法筆記
Always used with 'the' or a possessive when functioning as a noun ('the eldest', 'my eldest'). This sense can refer to any group of three or more people, not just a family.
常見錯誤
2. the first-born among the children of a particular set of parents, and therefore
the first-born among the children of a particular set of parents, and therefore older than every other child in that household — for example, a big brother who looks after his younger sisters and brothers.
Emre is the eldest, so he helps his parents care for his younger siblings.
the eldest as noun + reason clause with family responsibility
My eldest just started her first year at a high school in Taipei.
possessive determiner + eldest as noun
Élise, as the eldest, sets the dinner table each night while her siblings play.
Linh, the eldest, wakes at six each morning to help her mother pack lunch boxes.
- first-born
more formal and literary; emphasises the order of birth
- oldest child
more general; 'oldest' can be used for objects while 'eldest' is family-specific
- youngest
the child born last in the family
文法句型
possessive + eldest
the + eldest
the + eldest + in + family
用法筆記
This sense narrows the reference to the family's first-born child. Parents commonly refer to their oldest child simply as 'my eldest' in everyday conversation.