Ancient vs. Old: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Ancient" refers to something from a far past historical period, while "Old" describes something of age but not necessarily historic.
Key Differences
"Ancient" typically describes things from a bygone era, often several centuries old, such as ancient civilizations. In contrast, "Old" is a more general term for anything that has existed for a considerable time but does not specify a historical context.
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Nov 23, 2023
The term "Ancient" often carries a connotation of historical significance or antiquity, like ancient artifacts. "Old", however, can refer to anything aged, like an old car, without implying historical value.
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Nov 23, 2023
"Ancient" is used for periods or objects far removed from the present, like ancient Greece. "Old" can refer to things closer in time, such as a house built a few decades ago.
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Nov 23, 2023
"Ancient" emphasizes a historical and cultural aspect, associated with times long past. "Old" is more neutral, denoting age without the cultural or historical undertones.
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Nov 23, 2023
Objects described as "Ancient" are often seen as relics, imbued with a sense of mystery. In contrast, describing something as "Old" does not necessarily make it rare or unique.
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Nov 23, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Timeframe
Several centuries to millennia old
Any aged item, not as old as ancient
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Historical Significance
High historical and cultural significance
Generally lacks specific historical value
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Usage Context
Historical, archeological contexts
General usage for aged objects or people
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Connotation
Cultural and historical depth
Simply denoting age, without depth
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Ancient and Old Definitions
Ancient
Belonging to the very distant past.
The museum displayed ancient artifacts from Egypt.
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Nov 14, 2023
Old
Having lived or existed for many years.
The old oak tree had stood in the park for centuries.
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Ancient
Very old, often of historical significance.
Ancient manuscripts were found in the library's vault.
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Nov 14, 2023
Old
Not new; used or worn for some time.
She still used her old sewing machine from the 1960s.
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Ancient
Old and historically important.
He was fascinated by the ancient traditions of the tribe.
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Old
Outdated or obsolete.
Her ideas were considered too old-fashioned by the younger generation.
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Nov 14, 2023
Ancient
Of, relating to, or belonging to times long past, especially before the fall of the Western Roman Empire (AD 476)
Ancient cultures.
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Old
Having lived or existed for a relatively long time; far advanced in years or life.
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Ancient
Of great age; very old
"The males live up to six months—positively ancient, for a bee" (Elizabeth Royte).
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Ancient
(Archaic) Having the qualities associated with age, wisdom, or long use; venerable
"You seem a sober, ancient Gentleman by your habit" (Shakespeare).
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Old
Of or relating to a long life or to people who have had long lives
A ripe old age.
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Old
Having or exhibiting the physical characteristics of age
A prematurely old face.
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Old
Having or exhibiting the wisdom of age; mature
A child who is old for his years.
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Old
Having lived or existed for a specified length of time
She was 12 years old.
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Ancient
Having lasted from a remote period; having been of long duration; of great age, very old.
An ancient city
An ancient forest
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Old
Skilled or able through long experience; practiced
He is an old hand at doing home repairs.
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Ancient
Existent or occurring in time long past, usually in remote ages; belonging to or associated with antiquity; old, as opposed to modern.
An ancient author
An ancient empire
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Ancient
(history) Relating to antiquity as a primarily European historical period; the time before the Middle Ages.
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Oct 19, 2023
Old
Often Old Being the earlier or earliest of two or more related objects, stages, versions, or periods.
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Old
Having become slower in flow and less vigorous in action. Used of a river.
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Old
Used as an intensive
Come back any old time. Don't give me any ol' excuse.
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Oct 19, 2023
Ancient
Old; that happened or existed in former times, usually at a great distance of time; belonging to times long past; specifically applied to the times before the fall of the Roman empire; - opposed to modern; as, ancient authors, literature, history; ancient days.
Witness those ancient empires of the earth.
Gildas Albanius . . . much ancienter than his namesake surnamed the Wise.
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Oct 19, 2023
Old
Of an object, concept, relationship, etc., having existed for a relatively long period of time.
An old abandoned building
An old friend
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Ancient
Old; that has been of long duration; of long standing; of great age; as, an ancient forest; an ancient castle.
Remove not the ancient landmarks, which thy fathers have set.
An ancient man, strangely habited, asked for quarters.
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Old
Of a living being, having lived for most of the expected years.
A wrinkled old man
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Ancient
Known for a long time, or from early times; - opposed to recent or new; as, the ancient continent.
A friend, perhaps, or an ancient acquaintance.
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Old
Of a perishable item, having existed for most of, or more than, its shelf life.
An old loaf of bread
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Ancient
Dignified, like an aged man; magisterial; venerable.
He wrought but some few hours of the day, and then would he seem very grave and ancient.
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Old
Of a species or language, belonging to a lineage that is distantly related others
The ginkgo is one of the oldest living trees
Basque is the oldest language in Europe
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Ancient
Experienced; versed.
Though [he] was the youngest brother, yet he was the most ancient in the business of the realm.
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Old
Having been used and thus no longer new or unused.
I find that an old toothbrush is good to clean the keyboard with.
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Old
Having existed or lived for the specified time.
How old are they? She’s five years old and he's seven. We also have a young teen and a two-year-old child.
My great-grandfather lived to be a hundred and one years old.
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Oct 19, 2023
Ancient
An aged man; a patriarch. Hence: A governor; a ruler; a person of influence.
The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof.
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Old
Former, previous.
My new car is not as good as my old one.
A school reunion for Old Etonians
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Ancient
A senior; an elder; a predecessor.
Junius and Andronicus . . . in Christianity . . . were his ancients.
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Old
That is no longer in existence.
The footpath follows the route of an old railway line.
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Old
Obsolete; out-of-date.
That is the old way of doing things; now we do it this way.
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Ancient
An ensign or flag.
More dishonorable ragged than an old-faced ancient.
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Old
Familiar.
When he got drunk and quarrelsome they just gave him the old heave-ho.
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Ancient
The bearer of a flag; an ensign.
This is Othello's ancient, as I take it.
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Old
(UK) Being a graduate or alumnus of a school, especially a public school.
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Ancient
Belonging to times long past especially of the historical period before the fall of the Western Roman Empire;
Ancient history
Ancient civilizations such as those of the Etruscans and Sumerians
Ancient Greece
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Old
Tiresome after prolonged repetition.
Your constant pestering is getting old.
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Old
Said of subdued colors, particularly reds, pinks and oranges, as if they had faded over time.
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Ancient
From an earlier period of history.
She studied ancient Greek philosophy.
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Nov 14, 2023
Old
A grammatical intensifier, often used in describing something positive, and combined with another adjective.
We're having a good old time.
My next car will be a big old SUV.
My wife makes the best little old apple pie in Texas.
Any old
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Oct 19, 2023
Ancient
No longer in existence; from a previous era.
The ancient empire's ruins were still majestic.
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Nov 14, 2023
Old
|invariable plural only}} People who are old; old beings; the older generation, taken as a group.
A civilised society should always look after the old in the community.
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Oct 19, 2023
Old
(slang) A person older than oneself, especially an adult in relation to a teenager.
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Old
One's parents.
I had to sneak out to meet my girlfriend and tell the olds I was going to the library.
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Old
A typically dark-coloured lager brewed by the traditional top-fermentation method.
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Oct 19, 2023
Old
Not young; advanced far in years or life; having lived till toward the end of the ordinary term of living; as, an old man; an old age; an old horse; an old tree.
Let not old age disgrace my high desire.
The melancholy news that we grow old.
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Oct 19, 2023
Old
Not new or fresh; not recently made or produced; having existed for a long time; as, old wine; an old friendship.
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Old
Formerly existing; ancient; not modern; preceding; original; as, an old law; an old custom; an old promise.
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Old
Continued in life; advanced in the course of existence; having (a certain) length of existence; - designating the age of a person or thing; as, an infant a few hours old; a cathedral centuries old.
And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?
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Old
Long practiced; hence, skilled; experienced; cunning; as, an old offender; old in vice.
Vane, young in years, but in sage counsel old.
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Old
Long cultivated; as, an old farm; old land, as opposed to new land, that is, to land lately cleared.
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Old
Worn out; weakened or exhausted by use; past usefulness; as, old shoes; old clothes.
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Old
More than enough; abundant.
If a man were porter of hell gate, he should have old turning the key.
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Oct 19, 2023
Old
Aged; antiquated; hence, wanting in the mental vigor or other qualities belonging to youth; - used disparagingly as a term of reproach.
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Oct 19, 2023
Old
Old-fashioned; wonted; customary; as of old; as, the good old times; hence, colloquially, gay; jolly.
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Oct 19, 2023
Old
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age; especially not young; often used as a combining form to indicate an age as specified as in `a week-old baby';
An old man's eagle mind
His mother is very old
A ripe old age
How old are you?
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Oct 19, 2023
Old
Of long duration; not new;
Old tradition
Old house
Old wine
Old country
Old friendships
Old money
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Oct 19, 2023
Old
Lacking originality or spontaneity; no longer new;
Moth-eaten theories about race
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Oct 19, 2023
Old
Just preceding something else in time or order;
The previous owner
My old house was larger
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Oct 19, 2023
Old
Of a very early stage in development;
Old English is also called Anglo Saxon
Old High German is High German from the middle of the 9th to the end of the 11th century
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Oct 19, 2023
Old
Used informally especially for emphasis;
A real honest-to-god live cowboy
Had us a high old time
Went upriver to look at a sure-enough fish wheel
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can 'ancient' refer to living things?
Usually not, it's more for objects or historical periods.
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Nov 23, 2023
Are 'ancient' items always valuable?
Often, due to their historical significance, but not always.
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Nov 23, 2023
Is 'ancient' only for positive contexts?
No, it can be neutral, referring to age and history.
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Nov 23, 2023
Give an example of something old.
A vintage car from the 1950s is an example of something old.
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Nov 23, 2023
Is 'old' synonymous with 'ancient'?
No, 'old' generally refers to something that is not new, while 'ancient' specifically implies a great age from a distant past.
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Nov 23, 2023
In what context would you use 'ancient' rather than 'old'?
Use 'ancient' when referring to things of great historical or cultural importance, such as ancient civilizations or artifacts.
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Nov 23, 2023
Does 'ancient' imply rarity?
It can, due to the significant age and historical context.
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Nov 23, 2023
What qualifies as 'ancient'?
Items or periods several centuries old, often of historical importance.
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Nov 23, 2023
Can 'old' be used affectionately?
Yes, like referring to a beloved 'old' item or pet.
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Nov 23, 2023
Which term is more commonly used in everyday language, 'ancient' or 'old'?
'Old' is more commonly used in everyday language to describe items or people of significant age.
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Nov 23, 2023
Are there any idiomatic expressions or phrases related to 'ancient' or 'old'?
Yes, there are many idiomatic expressions, such as "old as the hills" or "ancient history," that use these words to convey age or time-related concepts.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 23, 2023
Can 'ancient' and 'old' be used interchangeably?
No, they cannot be used interchangeably, as they convey different degrees of age and historical relevance.
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Nov 23, 2023
Is it considered respectful to call a person 'ancient' or 'old'?
It's generally more respectful to use terms like 'elderly' or 'senior' when referring to older individuals.
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Nov 23, 2023
Is 'ancient' a stronger term than 'old'?
Yes, 'ancient' carries a stronger connotation of age and historical significance compared to 'old.'
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 23, 2023
Can something be both 'ancient' and 'old'?
Yes, something can be both ancient and old, as 'ancient' emphasizes a greater age, and 'old' emphasizes not being new.
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Nov 23, 2023
Can 'ancient' and 'old' be used to describe non-physical attributes, like ideas or traditions?
Yes, both words can be used metaphorically to describe non-physical attributes with a long history or tradition.
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Nov 23, 2023
What are some synonyms for 'ancient' and 'old'?
Synonyms for 'ancient' include 'antique,' 'historic,' and 'vintage.' Synonyms for 'old' include 'aged,' 'elderly,' and 'mature.'
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 23, 2023
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Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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