ancient

1 of 3

adjective

an·cient ˈān(t)-shənt How to pronounce ancient (audio)

ˈāŋ(k)-shənt

: having had an existence of many years

ancient customs

: of or relating to a remote period, to a time early in history, or to those living in such a period or time

ancient Egyptians

especially : of or relating to the historical period beginning with the earliest known civilizations and extending to the fall of the western Roman Empire in a.d. 476

studied both ancient and modern history

: having the qualities of age or long existence: such as

: venerable

: old-fashioned, antique

ancientness noun

ancient

2 of 3

noun (1)

: a person who lived in ancient times:

ancients plural : the civilized people of antiquity

especially : those of the classical nations (see classical sense 2a)

: one of the classical authors

Plutarch and other ancients

: an aged living being

a penniless ancient

: an ancient coin

ancient

3 of 3

noun (2)

archaic : ensign, standard, flag

obsolete : the bearer of an ensign

ancient 1 of 2

adjective

as in old

dating or surviving from the distant past Rome's ancient ruins remain carefully preserved even in the midst of the bustle of the modern city

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

old
antique
venerable
medieval
archaic
antiquated
prehistoric
antediluvian
hoary
traditional
immemorial
age-old
aged
prehistorical
hoar
aging
classical
obsolete
mediaeval
durable
vintage
outmoded
enduring
dated
ageing
dateless
fusty
retro
archaistic
primeval
geriatric
timeless
permanent
classic
passé
ageless
old-time
primordial
lasting
old-world
moldy
timeworn
out-of-date
time-honored
mature
old-fashioned
Noachian
tried
time-tested
long-lived
hallowed
tried-and-true

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

modern
new
recent
young
contemporary
youthful
current
fresh
latest
vernal
ultramodern
novel
untried
mod
present-day
untested
unused
unworn
brand-new

as in older

being of advanced years and especially past middle age used to think that age 40 was ancient until I turned 40 myself

Synonyms & Similar Words

older
old
elderly
aging
aged
ageing
senior
geriatric
senescent
unyoung
long in the tooth
long-lived
venerable
over-the-hill
oldish
adult
octogenarian
centenarian
sexagenarian
nonagenarian
of a certain age
septuagenarian
decrepit
patriarchal
retired
superannuated
matriarchal
doddering
senile
tottery
mature
anile
spavined
pensioned
middle-aged
grown-up
overage
overaged

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

young
youthful
ageless
youngish
juvenile
adolescent
immature
green
minor
puerile
raw
infantile
childish
inexperienced
childlike
underage
preteen
callow
infantine
babyish
kiddish

as in prehistoric

relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period the ancient Inca built a vast network of roads

Synonyms & Similar Words

prehistoric
primitive
primeval
primal
prehistorical
primordial
early
old
antediluvian
antiquated
hoary
antique
infant
embryonic
age-old
outmoded
budding
obsolete
germinal
aged
passé
out-of-date
dateless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

complex
advanced
late
evolved
higher
high
developed
full-blown
full-scale
full-fledged

ancient

2 of 2

noun

as in elder

a person of advanced years ancients in the tribe are accorded great respect and valued for their wisdom

Synonyms & Similar Words

elder
adult
geriatric
senior citizen
oldster
golden-ager
patriarch
old-timer
senior
graybeard
beldam
beldame
dowager
grandame
grandam
whitebeard
dotard
grown-up
gaffer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

youth
youngster
adolescent
minor
juvenile
child
kid
kiddie
kiddy
cub

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of ancient are antiquated, antique, archaic, obsolete, old, and venerable. While all these words mean "having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past," ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past.

ancient accounts of dragons

The meanings of antiquated and ancient largely overlap; however, antiquated implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time.

antiquated teaching methods

Although the words antique and ancient have much in common, antique applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time.

collected antique Chippendale furniture

The words archaic and ancient are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time.

the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period

While the synonyms obsolete and ancient are close in meaning, obsolete may apply to something regarded as no longer acceptable or useful even though it is still in existence.

a computer that makes earlier models obsolete

The words old and ancient can be used in similar contexts, but old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence.

old houses

an old sweater of mine

The synonyms venerable and ancient are sometimes interchangeable, but venerable stresses the impressiveness and dignity of great age.

the family's venerable patriarch

单词	ancient
释义	ancient 1 of 3 adjective an·cient ˈān(t)-shənt ˈāŋ(k)-shənt 1 : having had an existence of many years ancient customs 2 : of or relating to a remote period, to a time early in history, or to those living in such a period or time ancient Egyptians especially : of or relating to the historical period beginning with the earliest known civilizations and extending to the fall of the western Roman Empire in a.d. 476 studied both ancient and modern history 3 : having the qualities of age or long existence: such as a : venerable b : old-fashioned, antique ancientness noun ancient 2 of 3 noun (1) 1 : a person who lived in ancient times: a ancients plural : the civilized people of antiquity especially : those of the classical nations (see classical sense 2a) b : one of the classical authors Plutarch and other ancients 2 : an aged living being a penniless ancient 3 : an ancient coin ancient 3 of 3 noun (2) 1 archaic : ensign, standard, flag 2 obsolete : the bearer of an ensign Synonyms Adjective aged age-old antediluvian antique dateless hoar hoary immemorial old venerable Noun (1) elder geriatric golden-ager old-timer oldster senior senior citizen See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Adjective The people in the village still observe the ancient customs of their ancestors. a grove of ancient oak trees The practice was more common in ancient times than it is now. the gods of the ancient Romans She studied both ancient and modern history. Word History Etymology Adjective and Noun (1) Middle English ancien, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin anteanus, from Latin ante* before — more at ante- Noun (2) alteration of ensign First Known Use Adjective 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun (1) 1502, in the meaning defined at sense 2 Noun (2) 1554, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing ancient ancient history ancient history Kids Definition ancient 1 of 2 adjective an·cient ˈān-shənt 1 : very old ancient customs 2 : of or relating to a time long past or to those living in such a time ancient Egypt ancient 2 of 2 noun 1 : a very old person 2 ancients plural : the civilized peoples of ancient times and especially of Greece and Rome Legal Definition ancient adjective an·cient : existing from a long past date specifically : having had an uninterrupted existence of 20 to 30 or more years Note: Things and especially documents that are ancient benefit from a presumption that they are valid even though proof of their validity may be unavailable due to lapse of memory, absence of witnesses, or loss of documents. ancient 1 of 2 adjective 1 as in old dating or surviving from the distant past Rome's ancient ruins remain carefully preserved even in the midst of the bustle of the modern city Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance old antique venerable medieval archaic antiquated prehistoric antediluvian hoary traditional immemorial age-old aged prehistorical hoar aging classical obsolete mediaeval durable vintage outmoded enduring dated ageing dateless fusty retro archaistic primeval geriatric timeless permanent classic passé ageless old-time primordial lasting old-world moldy timeworn out-of-date time-honored mature old-fashioned Noachian tried time-tested long-lived hallowed tried-and-true Antonyms & Near Antonyms modern new recent young contemporary youthful current fresh latest vernal ultramodern novel untried mod present-day untested unused unworn brand-new See More 2 as in older being of advanced years and especially past middle age used to think that age 40 was ancient until I turned 40 myself Synonyms & Similar Words older old elderly aging aged ageing senior geriatric senescent unyoung long in the tooth long-lived venerable over-the-hill oldish adult octogenarian centenarian sexagenarian nonagenarian of a certain age septuagenarian decrepit patriarchal retired superannuated matriarchal doddering senile tottery mature anile spavined pensioned middle-aged grown-up overage overaged Antonyms & Near Antonyms young youthful ageless youngish juvenile adolescent immature green minor puerile raw infantile childish inexperienced childlike underage preteen callow infantine babyish kiddish See More 3 as in prehistoric relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period the ancient Inca built a vast network of roads Synonyms & Similar Words prehistoric primitive primeval primal prehistorical primordial early old antediluvian antiquated hoary antique infant embryonic age-old outmoded budding obsolete germinal aged passé out-of-date dateless Antonyms & Near Antonyms complex advanced late evolved higher high developed full-blown full-scale full-fledged See More ancient 2 of 2 noun as in elder a person of advanced years ancients in the tribe are accorded great respect and valued for their wisdom Synonyms & Similar Words elder adult geriatric senior citizen oldster golden-ager patriarch old-timer senior graybeard beldam beldame dowager grandame grandam whitebeard dotard grown-up gaffer Antonyms & Near Antonyms youth youngster adolescent minor juvenile child kid kiddie kiddy cub See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of ancient are antiquated, antique, archaic, obsolete, old, and venerable. While all these words mean "having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past," ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past. ancient accounts of dragons The meanings of antiquated and ancient largely overlap; however, antiquated implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time. antiquated teaching methods Although the words antique and ancient have much in common, antique applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time. collected antique Chippendale furniture The words archaic and ancient are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time. the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period While the synonyms obsolete and ancient are close in meaning, obsolete may apply to something regarded as no longer acceptable or useful even though it is still in existence. a computer that makes earlier models obsolete The words old and ancient can be used in similar contexts, but old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence. old houses an old sweater of mine The synonyms venerable and ancient are sometimes interchangeable, but venerable stresses the impressiveness and dignity of great age. the family's venerable patriarch
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ancient

adjective

noun (1)

noun (2)

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing ancient

Kids Definition

adjective

noun

Legal Definition

adjective

adjective

noun

Synonym Chooser