oldest

oldest — 形容詞

1. Having more years of life than anyone else in a particular family, group, or set

1.形容詞A2
釋義

最年長的

在一群人或動物中年紀最大

Having more years of life than anyone else in a particular family, group, or set.

例句

Theo is the oldest child, so he walks his sisters to school.

Theo 是家裡最年長的孩子，所以他會陪妹妹們走路上學。

the oldest child in a family

At the shelter, Nala was the oldest cat and slept by the heater.

在收容所裡，Nala 是年紀最大的貓，總睡在暖氣旁。

be the oldest + animal in a group

同義詞
  • eldest

    Most common for family order, especially eldest son or eldest daughter.

  • senior

    More formal and often used in official, family, or work settings.

反義詞
  • 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

❌Theo is oldest than Karim.
✅Theo is older than Karim.' / 'Theo is the oldest in the class.
💡Use 'older than' for two-way comparison, and 'the oldest' for the top item in a group.

2. Made, built, or in use earlier than all others of the same kind, so it has been

2.形容詞B1
釋義

最古老的

在同類事物中存在最久

Made, built, or in use earlier than all others of the same kind, so it has been around the longest.

例句

This bridge is the oldest one in town and still opens daily.

這座橋是鎮上最古老的一座，而且現在每天仍會開放通行。

be the oldest one in + place

Workers protected the oldest machine in the factory during the move.

搬運時，工人特別保護了工廠裡最古老的那台機器。

the oldest + object in a place

同義詞
  • 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.

反義詞
  • newest

    Means most recently made, built, or added.

  • latest

    Stresses being last in time rather than having a short history.

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

❌It is the older bridge in Taiwan.
✅It is the oldest bridge in Taiwan.
💡Use oldest when one thing ranks above all the others in the whole set.

3. Belonging to the furthest point back in history, especially the earliest recorde

3.形容詞B2
釋義

最早期的

屬於最久遠的歷史階段或版本

Belonging to the furthest point back in history, especially the earliest recorded stage, text, or version.

例句

Students compared the oldest English words with the forms they use today.

學生把最早期的英文詞和今天使用的形式拿來比較。

compare the oldest forms with modern ones

The exhibit shows the oldest known drawing of the island harbor.

展覽展示了這座島上港口最早期、目前已知的圖畫。

the oldest known + noun

同義詞
  • 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.

反義詞
  • latest

    Means most recent in time or record.

  • modern

    Contrasts with very early historical forms.

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

❌The oldest English means English spoken by old people.
✅The oldest English means the earliest recorded form of English.
💡Here oldest points to historical stage, not to the speakers' age.

4. Known for a longer time than any other friend or person in your life.

4.形容詞B1
釋義

交情最久的

在朋友中認識最久的

Known for a longer time than any other friend or person in your life.

例句

Apinya invited her oldest friend to stand beside her at the wedding.

Apinya 邀請她交情最久的朋友在婚禮上站在自己身旁。

my/her oldest friend = known longest

When Christopher felt lost in the new city, he called his oldest friend first.

Christopher 在新城市感到迷失時，第一個打給了他交情最久的朋友。

同義詞
  • long-standing

    Describes a relationship or connection that has lasted many years.

  • longtime

    Common before friend, partner, or colleague when the relationship is old.

反義詞
  • new

    Describes a friend or connection formed recently.

  • recent

    Focuses on short length of acquaintance.

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.

常見錯誤

❌Priya is my oldest friend because she is sixty.
✅Priya is my oldest friend because I have known her the longest.
💡In this phrase, oldest refers to the length of the friendship, not to the friend's age.