older

older — adjective

1. with more years behind it or them than the other person or thing being compared.

1.形容詞A1
釋義

with more years behind it or them than the other person or thing being compared.

例句

Mateo is two years older than his cousin and already drives to school.

older than + person in age comparison

The older bridge shook in the wind while the new one stayed still.

同義詞
  • elder

    More formal and mainly used for people, especially family roles.

  • senior

    Common in official rankings or age groups, not for ordinary objects.

反義詞
  • younger

    Used for people, animals, or things with fewer years behind them.

  • newer

    Best when the comparison is between versions or objects.

文法句型

older than + noun

be + older

older + noun

用法筆記

Used for direct comparisons. With people it compares age; with objects it compares how long they have existed or been used. Distinguish from sense 4, which compares periods or versions from the past rather than simple age or wear.

常見錯誤

❌My sister is more old than me.
✅My sister is older than I am.
💡English uses the irregular comparative 'older', not 'more old'.
❌This bridge is older from that one.
✅This bridge is older than that one.
💡use 'than' after the comparative.

2. meant for people in a higher age group, so it does not suit younger children or

2.形容詞B1
釋義

meant for people in a higher age group, so it does not suit younger children or teens.

例句

The museum moved the harder puzzle sheets to the older kids' table.

older + group for suitability by age

This reading club is for older students who can discuss full novels.

for older + noun in labels or instructions

反義詞
  • child-friendly

    Used when something is designed for younger children instead.

文法句型

for older + noun

older + age group

用法筆記

This sense often appears in labels, school groupings, or service information. Distinguish it from sense 3: here the point is suitability for that age group, not a bare statement about how old someone is.

常見錯誤

❌This class is older children.
✅This class is for older children.
💡add 'for' when you mean the class is intended for that group.
❌The toy is for more older kids.
✅The toy is for older kids.
💡do not add 'more' before the comparative.

3. used to say that one person is more advanced in years than another, or that some

3.形容詞A1
釋義

used to say that one person is more advanced in years than another, or that someone has reached a stated minimum age.

例句

Which twin is older, Liam or Lien this year?

question form: Which ... is older?

The swimming class is open to children aged ten or older.

aged [number] or older for age limits

同義詞
  • elder

    Used in some family or formal comparisons, but much less widely than 'older'.

  • over

    Often works for age limits with numbers, but not for direct person-to-person comparison.

反義詞
  • younger

    Used when the person or age group is lower in age.

文法句型

older than + age

[number] and older

aged [number] or older

用法筆記

This sense is common in questions, direct comparisons, and age cutoffs such as '18 and older'. Distinguish it from sense 2, where the focus is on activities or products meant for an older group.

常見錯誤

❌Who is more older, Mia or Ben?
✅Who is older, Mia or Ben?
💡use 'older' by itself as the comparative form.
❌Children ten years older can enter.
✅Children ten years old or older can enter.
💡include 'old' or use the fixed age-limit pattern.

4. belonging to a more distant time in the past than something else being compared.

4.形容詞A2
釋義

belonging to a more distant time in the past than something else being compared.

例句

Beatriz preferred the older map because it still showed the village mill.

older + version from an earlier period

The library keeps older court records in the basement archive.

同義詞
  • earlier

    Often more direct when the comparison is clearly about time.

  • former

    Fits people, jobs, or arrangements from a previous period.

反義詞
  • newer

    Used for the more recent version or item.

  • later

    Best when the contrast is only about time, not physical objects.

文法句型

older + record / version / map

the older + noun

用法筆記

This sense usually compares documents, buildings, recordings, tools, or customs from different periods. Distinguish it from sense 1: the point here is an earlier date or version, not simply greater age.

常見錯誤

❌This is my old older map.
✅This is my older map.
💡one comparative adjective is enough in this structure.
❌The older rule is more old than the new one.
✅The older rule is from an earlier period than the new one.
💡use time wording, not a second age comparison.

5. describing speech, writing, or literature from a stage before the modern form.

5.形容詞B2
釋義

describing speech, writing, or literature from a stage before the modern form.

例句

The course compares older French texts with modern newspaper language.

older + language texts in academic comparison

Her paper explains why older English spellings confuse new readers.

同義詞
  • earlier

    Works in academic comparisons, but is broader and less tied to language history.

  • premodern

    A formal label for cultures or texts before the modern period.

反義詞
  • modern

    Used for the current stage of the language or literature.

文法句型

older + language

older + text

older + grammar form

用法筆記

This is mainly an academic label for language history or literary study. Distinguish it from sense 4: here the noun is usually a language, text, spelling, or grammar form, not just any object from the past.

常見錯誤

❌She studies older Englishes at university.
✅She studies older English texts at university.
💡use the language name itself, not an invented plural.
❌The class reads older language.
✅The class reads older forms of the language.
💡make clear that you mean an earlier stage, not simply difficult wording.

6. used of a friend or similar person when you have known that person for more year

6.形容詞B2
釋義

used of a friend or similar person when you have known that person for more years than someone else.

例句

Salma brought an older friend from university, not the neighbor from last month.

older friend = known longer, not older in age

Asher called an older colleague from his first hospital after the alarm.

同義詞
  • long-standing

    More formal and often used for relationships or habits.

  • old

    The everyday adjective in phrases like 'old friend'.

反義詞
  • new

    Used for someone you met only recently.

文法句型

older friend

older colleague

older classmate

用法筆記

This sense is most natural with friend, classmate, neighbor, or colleague when you are comparing long-standing ties. Distinguish it from sense 1: it says how long you have known someone, not how old that person is.

常見錯誤

❌She is my older friend' when you only mean she is older in age.
✅She is my older friend from university' or 'She is an older friend of mine.
💡add context if the comparison is about how long you have known her.
❌He is my older friend than Ben.
✅I have known him longer than Ben.
💡this sense does not use 'than' in the same way as age comparisons.

7. more skilled or confident because of having spent longer doing the work or activ

7.形容詞B2
釋義

more skilled or confident because of having spent longer doing the work or activity.

例句

The older nurses handled the noisy emergency room without panic.

older can imply greater experience at work

Our older reporters spotted the false rumor before it spread online.

同義詞
  • seasoned

    Emphasizes long practical experience.

  • veteran

    Stronger and often used for workers, players, or soldiers.

  • skilled

    Broader; it names ability without always stressing years of practice.

反義詞
  • inexperienced

    Used when someone lacks practice in the work or activity.

文法句型

older + worker role

older + team member

用法筆記

This sense often appears in workplaces, teams, or crafts where years of practice matter. Distinguish it from sense 1: the real point is skill gained over time, not age by itself.

常見錯誤

❌The older doctor is better because he is older.
✅The older doctor is more experienced.
💡make clear that the comparison is about experience, not automatic age-based quality.
❌We need an older help on this case.
✅We need an older hand on this case.
💡use a real noun after the adjective.

older — noun