ancient

[eyn-shuhnt] / ˈeɪn ʃənt /

ADJECTIVE

old, often very old

Synonyms

STRONGEST

age-old antique archaic hoary old-fashioned timeworn venerable

STRONG

aged antediluvian bygone elderly fossil oldie relic remote

WEAK

antiquated back number been around creaky early few miles on lot of mileage moth-eaten obsolete old goat older out-of-date outmoded primal primeval primordial rusty superannuated worse for wear

Antonyms

STRONGEST

current fresh modern new

STRONG

young

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

National Science Foundation that aims to drill through Greenland's ice and collect ancient material from below.

From Science Daily • Apr. 18, 2026

Adapted from Homer's ancient Greek poem, The Odyssey will star Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway and Zendaya, and Nolan played a key section of the film featuring the Trojan Horse at CinemaCon.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

Instead, they are derived from ancient viruses that bacteria have adapted and brought under their own control.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026

This whole area, which to me, is the ancient part of the site, became the starting point.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

Beowulf particularly wanted to know if there had been peas in ancient Rome.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Vocabulary lists containing ancient

"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act I

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It's Lit: Hanukkah Words

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"The People Could Fly," Vocabulary from the folk tale

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