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aged

/eɪdʒd/

When used to describe a person as "old," the word "aged" can sound very formal or polite. In casual conversation, people usually prefer using "elderly" or simply "old." When referring to a specific number (e.g., "aged ten"), it functions as a shorthand for "who is aged ten." This usage is common in official reports and news stories. In the context of food and drink, such as cheese or wine, "aged" refers to a controlled process of maturation to improve taste. It is always used as a positive quality in these cases.

💬Casual Conversation

🎬Thursday afternoon, Fatima is grocery shopping for a dinner party.

Fatima

I can't tell if this cheddar is just old or properly aged.

Maya

Just bite the bullet and buy the expensive one.

💡

Fatima is using 'aged' in the culinary sense (developed flavor over time). Maya uses the idiom 'bite the bullet', meaning to accept something unpleasant or expensive because it is necessary, reflecting her blunt personality.

Meanings

adjective

Having lived for a long time; old.

"The aged man sat quietly on the park bench."

adjective

Of a specified age.

"A boy aged ten was found wandering the streets."

adjective

Allowed to sit or stand for a period of time to develop flavor (typically cheese or wine).

"This is a finely aged cheddar from Vermont."

verb (transitive)

To cause someone or something to appear older.

"The stress of the job has aged him prematurely."

verb (intransitive)

To grow old; to mature in flavor through time.

"Like a fine wine, she aged gracefully over the decades."

Related Words

old mature

Last Updated: May 22, 2026•Report an Error