Related Forms
age (noun) | age (verb)
Core Definition
Age is a noun referring to the length of time a person, animal, object, or concept has existed, or to a distinct period marked by particular characteristics or developments. It can describe measurement (years lived) or context (a stage, era, or phase).
Key Examples
She is the same age as her colleague.
The building shows signs of age.
Children of school age attended the program.
We live in a digital age.
Part of Speech
Noun
Pronunciation
UK IPA: /eɪdʒ/
US IPA: /eɪdʒ/
Word stress:
Single syllable; stress falls on the whole word.
Frequency & Register
CEFR: A1–C2
Register: neutral; extremely common in everyday speech, academic writing, and historical discussion
Conceptual Word Family
age (noun) — length of existence or life stage
age (verb) — grow older or change over time
aged (adjective) — old or having a certain age
ageing / aging (noun) — process of growing older
Age names time, not value.
Extended Meaning
Age may refer to:
chronological time (years lived)
life stage (childhood, adulthood)
historical period (industrial age)
condition caused by time (signs of age)
In abstract use, it often frames context rather than count.
Usage Insight
Age separates time passed from meaning assigned.
Unlike years, it can imply maturity or limitation.
Unlike era, it can apply to individuals.
Unlike generation, it does not require comparison.
Its meaning depends heavily on what is being described.
Grammar Notes
Age is a countable noun and commonly appears with possessives, prepositions, or descriptive phrases.
Example:
At that age, decisions feel permanent.
Patterns
at the age of + number
She moved abroad at the age of twenty.
of the same / similar age
They are of the same age.
show signs of age
The material shows signs of age.
age group / age range
The course targets a specific age group.
Collocations
young age
old age
working age
school age
legal age
digital age
These collocations are common in social, legal, and descriptive language.
When NOT to Use This Word
Do not use age as a judgment.
✗ He failed because of his age.
✓ He lacked experience.
Avoid unnecessary emphasis in sensitive contexts.
✗ She’s good for her age.
✓ She’s highly capable.
Dialogues
Everyday
A: What age are the children?
B: Around ten.
Informal / Social
A: When did you learn that?
B: At a young age.
Professional
A: Who is this designed for?
B: A specific age group.
Reflective
A: Why does this feel different now?
B: Age changes perspective.
Expressive
A: Time leaves marks.
B: That’s age.
Stories
At a young age, everything felt immediate and expansive. Time was counted in days and moments, and the future seemed distant and undefined.
As age increased, attention shifted. Experience began to guide choices, and patience slowly replaced urgency. Decisions were no longer rushed, but shaped by what had already been learned.
Years later, he realized that age had not narrowed his world. It had refined it. What once felt endless became deliberate, and what once felt heavy became selective. Age did not remove possibility — it taught him how to recognize which possibilities mattered.
Semantic Field
age vs. era
Age can be personal.
Era is historical.
age vs. years
Years are numerical.
Age is contextual.
age vs. maturity
Maturity is development.
Age is time passed.
age vs. generation
Generation is collective.
Age is individual.
FAQ
Is age only about numbers?
No. It can describe stages, conditions, or historical periods.
Can age be positive?
Yes. It often implies experience or perspective.
Is age countable?
Yes. It can be singular or plural depending on context.
Can age describe objects?
Yes. Objects can show or gain age over time.
Conclusion
Age names time as it accumulates and context as it changes. It measures existence without defining value, reminding us that time shapes meaning without assigning limits.
Age does not decide what is possible — it changes how possibility is understood.