oldest
oldest — adjective
1. Having more years of life than anyone else in a particular family, group, or set
Having more years of life than anyone else in a particular family, group, or set.
Theo is the oldest child, so he walks his sisters to school.
the oldest child in a family
At the shelter, Nala was the oldest cat and slept by the heater.
be the oldest + animal in a group
The oldest player on the team still trained before sunrise each day.
Among the cousins, Pedro is the oldest and often plans the holiday meals.
- youngest
Means having fewer years of life than all the others in the group.
文法句型
the oldest + noun
be + the oldest + in/of + group
the oldest child/player/cat
用法筆記
Often appears with family roles or group nouns such as child, sister, player, or member. Distinguish from sense 4: here oldest refers to age, not to how long you have known someone.
常見錯誤
2. Made, built, or in use earlier than all others of the same kind, so it has been
Made, built, or in use earlier than all others of the same kind, so it has been around the longest.
This bridge is the oldest one in town and still opens daily.
be the oldest one in + place
Workers protected the oldest machine in the factory during the move.
the oldest + object in a place
Our guide said the oldest map in the museum came from Spain.
The library keeps its oldest records in a cool underground room.
- earliest
Fits especially when the focus is date rather than age or condition.
- longest-standing
Often used for businesses, customs, or institutions that have lasted a long time.
- ancient
Suggests very great age, but not always comparison within a group.
文法句型
the oldest + building/object/record
be + the oldest + in + place
one of the oldest + plural noun
用法筆記
Usually describes buildings, objects, records, or institutions rather than people. It often appears in museum, town-history, or company-history contexts.
常見錯誤
3. Belonging to the furthest point back in history, especially the earliest recorde
Belonging to the furthest point back in history, especially the earliest recorded stage, text, or version.
Students compared the oldest English words with the forms they use today.
compare the oldest forms with modern ones
The exhibit shows the oldest known drawing of the island harbor.
the oldest known + noun
Researchers found the oldest written version of the song on clay tablets.
In class, Yasmin read the oldest law text and marked unfamiliar endings.
- earliest
The closest general synonym when the focus is first point in time.
- first-recorded
Used when the evidence comes from the oldest document or mention.
文法句型
the oldest + language/text/version
the oldest known + noun
the oldest written + noun
用法筆記
This sense points to time depth in history, language, or records, not to the age of a person or object. It often appears with known, written, recorded, or surviving.
常見錯誤
4. Known for a longer time than any other friend or person in your life.
Known for a longer time than any other friend or person in your life.
Apinya invited her oldest friend to stand beside her at the wedding.
my/her oldest friend = known longest
When Christopher felt lost in the new city, he called his oldest friend first.
At the reunion, Sivan sat with her oldest friends and laughed about school trips.
My oldest friends still remember the tiny flat where I learned to cook.
- long-standing
Describes a relationship or connection that has lasted many years.
- longtime
Common before friend, partner, or colleague when the relationship is old.
文法句型
my oldest friend
one of my oldest friends
our oldest friends
用法筆記
Usually refers to the length of the relationship, not to the friend's age. Distinguish from sense 1: an oldest friend may be younger than you but known for many more years.