Ancient means belonging to the distant past, especially to the period in history before the end of the Roman Empire.
They believed ancient Greece and Rome were vital sources of learning.
Synonyms: classical, old, former, past More Synonyms of ancient
ancientlyadverb
Salisbury Plain was known anciently as Ellendune.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Ancient means very old, or having existed for a long time.
...ancient Jewish tradition.
...ancient fishing rights.
...a few acres of ancient woodland.
3. plural noun [theNOUN]
The ancients are the people of an old civilization, especially classical Greece or Rome.
The ancients knew more than we do about the heavens.
More Synonyms of ancient
ancient in British English1
(ˈeɪnʃənt)
adjective
1.
dating from very long ago
ancient ruins
2.
very old; aged
3.
of the far past, esp before the collapse of the Western Roman Empire (476 ad)
Compare medieval, modern
4. law
having existed since before the time of legal memory
noun
5. (often plural)
a member of a civilized nation in the ancient world, esp a Greek, Roman, or Hebrew
6. (often plural)
one of the classical authors of Greek or Roman antiquity
7. archaic
an old man
Derived forms
ancientness (ˈancientness)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French ancien, from Vulgar Latin anteanus (unattested), from Latin ante before
ancient in British English2
(ˈeɪnʃənt)
noun archaic
1.
a flag or other banner; standard
2.
a standard-bearer; ensign
Word origin
C16: changed from ensign through the influence of ancient1
ancient in American English1
(ˈeɪntʃənt; ˈeɪnʃənt)
adjective
1.
of times long past; belonging to the early history of the world, esp. before the end of the Western Roman Empire ( a.d. 476)
2.
having existed a long time; very old
3.
old-fashioned; antiquated
4. Archaic
having the wisdom, dignity, etc. of age; venerable
noun
5.
a person who lived in ancient times
6.
an aged person
SIMILAR WORDS: old
Idioms:
the ancients
Derived forms
ancientness (ˈancientness)
noun
Word origin
ME auncien < OFr ancien < VL *anteanus < L ante, before: -t by infl. of -ent
ancient in American English2
(ˈeɪntʃənt; ˈeɪnʃənt)
noun Archaic
1.
an ensign, or flag
2.
a person carrying an ensign
Word origin
confusion of ensign with earlier ancien, ancient1
Examples of 'ancient' in a sentence
ancient
The world governing body dismissed it as ancient history.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But the upshot is more than ancient history.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
Those most sceptical of the ancient charmer were people with a family experience of the dark side of the regime.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The bulldozers will damage ancient woodland.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The Brexit vote is not yet ancient history but it has become part of the political furniture.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
With internet access heavily restricted, many people relied on ancient mobile phones to pass on the news.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Week one : ancient ruins.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The Woodland Trust has also argued that the ancient woodland would be irreplaceable.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Walk in its ancient woodlands, then thaw out in the outdoor hot tub or the Moroccan hammam.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The immune system is far more ancient than the brain.
Dylan Evans PLACEBO: The Belief Effect (2003)
But the art of creative history writing is an ancient one.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Two miles inland you can discover remains from a more ancient past.
Brennan, J. H. A Guide to Megalithic Ireland (1992)
Discover the history and culture of civilizations ancient and modern.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In ancient times this used to be the festival of the dead.
Travers, P L What the Bee Knows - reflections on myth, symbol and story (1989)
This simple observation unlocked the ancient world.
Bruce Feiler WALKING THE BIBLE (2001)
Ancient man is known to have been using spears at that period.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It is the kind of myth an ancient people might make to explain celestial phenomena.
John Garth TOLKIEN AND THE GREAT WAR: The Threshold of Middle-earth (2003)
It should all be so much ancient history.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Ancient woodland is far more than a group of trees which can be replaced by new planting.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is also surrounded by ancient oak forests and wildflower meadows.
The Sun (2015)
This is without justification either ancient or modern.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
The play wove together the ancient past and vibrant present in a compelling mix.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
All ancient civilizations have records of the use of herbs in the treatment of common illnesses.
Orton, Christine Eczema Relief - the comprehensive self-help plan (1990)
Sometimes an ancient building that has existed for thousands of years gets in the way of a road and it just disappears.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The ancient Egyptians planned their exit from childhood.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
More than half of ancient woodland has been lost since the 1930s.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Music, ballet and theatre in the ancient capital town.
Brines, Callum Collins Traveller - The Algarve (1993)
Instead, he has kept the ancient building as the village local.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Could the man be an ancient Egyptian?
Clerk, Jayana & Siegel, Ruth Modern Literatures of the Non-Western World: Where the Waters Are Born (1995)
You can enjoy ancient oak woodlands, breathtaking views and millions of years of history at this reserve.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In a nutshell: Another one from ancient times.
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
ancient
British English: ancient /ˈeɪnʃənt/ ADJECTIVE
Ancient means very old, or having existed for a long time.
...ancient Greece and Rome.
American English: ancient
Arabic: قَدِيـم
Brazilian Portuguese: antigo
Chinese: 远古的
Croatian: prastar
Czech: starověký/starobylý
Danish: oldtids-
Dutch: antiek oud
European Spanish: antiguo viejo
Finnish: muinainen
French: ancien vieux
German: uralt
Greek: αρχαίος
Italian: antico
Japanese: 大昔の
Korean: 고대의
Norwegian: eldgammel
Polish: starożytny
European Portuguese: antigo
Romanian: anticstrăvechi
Russian: древний
Latin American Spanish: antiguo
Swedish: forntida
Thai: โบราณ
Turkish: eski
Ukrainian: стародавній
Vietnamese: cổ đại
All related terms of 'ancient'
Ancient Greek
the Greek language from the earliest records to about 300 bc , the chief dialect areas of which were Aeolic , Arcadic , Doric , and Ionic (including Attic )
ancient site
The site of an important event is the place where it happened .
ancient forest
A forest is a large area where trees grow close together.
ancient history
Ancient history is the history of ancient civilizations, especially Greece and Rome .
ancient lights
the legal right to receive, by a particular window or windows, adequate and unobstructed daylight
ancient regime
See ancien régime
ancient wisdom
pre-Christian knowledge, philosophy , and beliefs
ancient languages
A language is a system of communication which consists of a set of sounds and written symbols which are used by the people of a particular country or region for talking or writing .
ancient monument
a historical building or the remains of one, usually dating from no later than the medieval period, that has been designated as worthy of preservation and is often in the care of a government department
Ancient of Days
a name for God, originating in the Authorized Version of the Old Testament ( Daniel 7:9)
Royal and Ancient Club
→ the Royal and Ancient Club
Rime of the Ancient Mariner
→ the Rime of the Ancient Mariner
the Royal and Ancient Club
a golf club, headquarters of the sport's ruling body, based in St Andrews , Scotland
the Rime of the Ancient Mariner
a long poem of the supernatural (1798) by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in which a sailor brings down a curse on himself and his shipmates by wantonly killing an albatross
Chinese translation of 'ancient'
ancient
(ˈeɪnʃənt)
adj
[Greece, Rome, monument]古代的 (gǔdài de)
(= very old) 古老的 (gǔlǎo de)
(inf, = aged, antiquated)
[person]老的 (lǎo de)
[car]老式的 (lǎoshì de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
dating from very long ago
They believed ancient Greece and Rome were vital sources of learning.
Synonyms
classical
old
How did people manage in the old days before electricity?
former
Remember him as he was in former years.
past
a return to the turbulence of past centuries
early
early man's cultural development
bygone
bygone generations
primordial
Twenty million years ago this was dense primordial forest.
primeval
a vast expanse of primeval swamp
olden
2 (adjective)
Definition
very old
ancient rites
Synonyms
very old
early
aged
She has an aged parent who needs some care.
antique
Their aim is to break taboos and change antique laws.
obsolete
archaic
archaic sculpture and porcelain
age-old
this age-old struggle for control
bygone
antiquated
The factory is so antiquated, it isn't worth saving.
hoary
the hoary old myth that women are unpredictable
olden
superannuated
the superannuated idealism of the sixties
antediluvian
those antediluvian days before television
timeworn
In the dim light the equipment looked old and time-worn.
old as the hills
3 (adjective)
He produced articles and stories on his ancient typewriter.
Synonyms
old-fashioned
She always wears such boring, old-fashioned clothes.
past
dated
They wore dated clothes.
outdated
outdated and inefficient factory equipment
obsolete
The company says the plant is obsolete and does not merit further investment.
out of date
processes using out-of-date technology and very old equipment
old-time
archaic
These archaic practices are advocated by people of limited outlook.
unfashionable
Wearing fur has become deeply unfashionable.
antiquated
outmoded
People in positions of power continue to promote outmoded ideas.
passé
That sort of music is passé now.
musty
old hat
behind the times
fusty
those fusty old buffers who refuse to join in Mexican waves