Old vs. Young: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Old refers to having lived or existed for a long time; young denotes having lived or existed for a short time.
Key Differences
In the context of age, old signifies a greater number of years lived, often associated with wisdom and experience, whereas young implies fewer years, often linked with vitality and inexperience. The old often have a wealth of memories and experiences, while the young are at the beginning of their journey, full of potential and possibilities.
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Nov 13, 2023
Physically, old typically denotes signs of aging such as wrinkles or grey hair, and possibly decreased physical strength or agility. Young, on the other hand, suggests a fresh, vibrant appearance, with more energy and physical resilience.
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Mentally, being old can imply a vast range of knowledge and understanding, possibly coupled with more conservative viewpoints shaped by longer life experiences. Young individuals often exhibit more flexible thinking, open-mindedness, and adaptability, reflecting their lesser exposure to life's complexities.
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In a cultural context, old can represent traditional values, practices, or beliefs that have stood the test of time. Young, in contrast, often signifies new, modern, or evolving ideas and attitudes that challenge the status quo.
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Nov 13, 2023
From a societal perspective, the old are often seen as mentors or custodians of history and tradition, while the young are viewed as drivers of change and innovation, pushing boundaries and questioning established norms.
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Nov 13, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Physical Characteristics
Signs of aging (wrinkles, grey hair)
Fresh, vibrant appearance
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Mental Attributes
Vast knowledge, possibly conservative
Flexible thinking, adaptability
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Cultural Significance
Represents traditional values
Symbolizes modern, evolving ideas
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Societal Role
Mentors, custodians of history
Drivers of change and innovation
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Old and Young Definitions
Young
Immature or not fully developed
The young plants needed careful nurturing.
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Old
Having lived or existed for a relatively long time; far advanced in years or life.
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Young
Relating to, typical of, or suggestive of youth or early life
He is young for his age.
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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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Young
(Geology) Being of an early stage in a geologic cycle. Used of bodies of water and land formations.
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Old
Having lived or existed for a specified length of time
She was 12 years old.
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Young
Young persons considered as a group; youth
Entertainment for the young.
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Young
In the early part of growth or life; born not long ago.
A lamb is a young sheep;
These picture books are for young readers
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Oct 19, 2023
Old
Skilled or able through long experience; practiced
He is an old hand at doing home repairs.
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Young
At an early stage of existence or development; having recently come into existence.
The age of space travel is still young;
A young business
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Young
(Not) advanced in age; (far towards or) at a specified stage of existence or age.
How young is your dog?
Her grandmother turned 70 years young last month.
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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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Young
Youthful; having the look or qualities of a young person.
My grandmother is a very active woman and is quite young for her age.
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Young
Of or belonging to the early part of life.
The cynical world soon shattered my young dreams.
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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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Young
(obsolete) Having little experience; inexperienced; unpracticed; ignorant; weak.
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Young
(often as if a plural noun) Offspring, especially the immature offspring of animals.
The lion caught a gnu to feed its young.
The lion's young are curious about the world around them.
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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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Young
Not long born; still in the first part of life; not yet arrived at adolescence, maturity, or age; not old; juvenile; - said of animals; as, a young child; a young man; a young fawn.
For he so young and tender was of age.
"Whom the gods love, die young," has been too long carelessly said; . . . whom the gods love, live young forever.
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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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Young
Being in the first part, pr period, of growth; as, a young plant; a young tree.
While the fears of the people were young.
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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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Young
Having little experience; inexperienced; unpracticed; ignorant; weak.
Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this.
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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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Young
The offspring of animals, either a single animal or offspring collectively.
[The egg] bursting with kindly rupture, forth disclosedTheir callow young.
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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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Old
Former, previous.
My new car is not as good as my old one.
A school reunion for Old Etonians
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Young
British physicist and Egyptologist; he revived the wave theory of light and proposed a three-component theory of color vision; he also played an important role in deciphering the hieroglyphics on the Rosetta Stone (1773-1829)
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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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Old
Familiar.
When he got drunk and quarrelsome they just gave him the old heave-ho.
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Old
(UK) Being a graduate or alumnus of a school, especially a public school.
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Young
United States religious leader of the Mormon Church after the assassination of Joseph Smith; he led the Mormon exodus from Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah (1801-1877)
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Old
Tiresome after prolonged repetition.
Your constant pestering is getting old.
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Young
Young people collectively;
Rock music appeals to the young
Youth everywhere rises in revolt
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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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Young
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth;
Young people
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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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Young
(of crops) harvested at an early stage of development; before complete maturity;
New potatoes
Young corn
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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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Old
(slang) A person older than oneself, especially an adult in relation to a teenager.
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Young
Characterized by youth
The young crowd at the concert was enthusiastic.
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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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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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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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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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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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Old
Lacking originality or spontaneity; no longer new;
Moth-eaten theories about race
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Old
Just preceding something else in time or order;
The previous owner
My old house was larger
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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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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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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What does 'old' mean in a historical context?
In history, 'old' often refers to periods or objects from a distant past.
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Nov 13, 2023
Is 'old' always related to age?
Not always; it can also refer to things long-established or outdated.
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What's an example of 'old' in fashion?
Vintage or retro styles are often labeled as 'old' fashion.
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Is 'old' used positively?
It can be, especially when highlighting experience or tradition.
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Can landscapes be described as 'old'?
Yes, especially when referring to ancient or unchanged terrains.
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Is 'young' a term for new employees?
It can be, denoting their recent entry into a job or field.
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Can 'young' describe a nation's history?
Yes, it can indicate a country with a relatively recent history.
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Can 'young' be used to describe ideas?
Yes, 'young' can describe ideas that are new or in early stages of development.
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How does 'young' relate to technology?
In technology, 'young' might refer to recent innovations or start-ups.
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Can 'young' signify freshness in food?
Yes, 'young' can describe fresh, newly harvested, or immature produce.
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What is an example of something described as "young"?
A blooming flower, a fledgling bird, or a rookie athlete are examples of things that can be described as "young."
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Nov 13, 2023
Is "old" related to historical periods or eras?
Yes, "old" can be used to describe things from specific historical epochs.
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Nov 13, 2023
Does 'young' imply lack of knowledge?
Sometimes, but it often connotes potential for learning and growth.
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How does 'old' relate to wine?
In wine, 'old' often signifies maturity, complexity, and quality.
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Nov 13, 2023
Is "young" related to the concept of potential or future growth?
Yes, "young" often implies the potential for further development or maturation.
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Nov 13, 2023
Can "old" have a positive or negative connotation?
It can have both positive (experienced, vintage) and negative (outdated, decrepit) connotations.
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Nov 13, 2023
Is "young" always associated with physical age?
No, "young" can also refer to the early stages or beginnings of something.
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Nov 13, 2023
Can "young" describe a mindset or behavior, not just age?
Yes, "young" can be used to describe an attitude or behavior associated with youthfulness.
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Nov 13, 2023
Are there different degrees of "oldness"?
Yes, something can be "relatively old" or "extremely old" depending on the context.
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Nov 13, 2023
Is "old" relative to time or context?
"Old" is often relative, as what is considered old in one context may not be in another.
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Nov 13, 2023
What is a classic example of something old?
A classic example might be an antique piece of furniture or a historic building.
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Nov 13, 2023
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About Author
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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