Most common
Definitions
- n. 1
The oldest child in a family, or individual in a group.
My oldest always forgets to turn the living room lights off before bed.
Related words
Forms
- Plural
- oldests → elders…
Choose the right word
Some of the oldest or most ancient words are not obsolete, as father, mother, etc.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- elder You seem to have mistaken me for my elder brother.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| oldest | steady | |
| elder | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- elder2
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (elder2 = 2 syllables).