age
gb/ˈeɪd͡ʒ/ us/ˈeɪd͡ʒ/
A1
English
~ 400
életkor, kor, korszak, öregszik, idősödik, érik, korhatár
NOUN
A1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s age
She learned to swim at the age of five.
Ötéves korában tanult meg úszni.
What's the average age for retirement in your country?
Hány évesen mennek átlagosan nyugdíjba az országodban?
At his age, he should take better care of his health.
Children start school at around the age of six.
Old age can bring both wisdom and challenges.
Learner examples
I am 20 years old. What is your age?
Én 20 éves vagyok. Te hány éves vagy?
She is 10 years old.
Ő 10 éves.
At the age of 7, I moved to a new city.
He is the same age as my brother.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'age' with 'old'. 'Age' is a noun, while 'old' is an adjective.
Meaning
number of years a person has lived
Collocations
at the age of
|old age
|average age
|retirement age
|school age
Synonyms
years (Informal way to refer to someone's age in years.)
Antonyms
youth (Refers to the early period of life, opposite of older age.)
Themes
daily life
|society
|time
|core_vocabulary
Definition
How many years old someone is.
The length of time that a person has been alive, measured in years.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
the [adjective] Age
The Stone Age was characterized by the use of stone tools.
A kőkorszakot a kőeszközök használata jellemezte.
We live in the digital age.
A digitális korban élünk.
It was the golden age of cinema.
The Middle Ages saw many social changes.
Learner examples
The Stone Age was very long ago.
A kőkor nagyon régen volt.
We are now in the digital age.
Most a digitális korban élünk.
The Middle Ages were hard for many people.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'age' as a historical period with 'age' as a person's years.
Meaning
a particular period in history
Collocations
Stone Age
|modern age
|digital age
|golden age
Synonyms
era (More formal or literary term for a historical period.)
Antonyms
moment (Refers to a very short period, opposite to a long historical period.)
Themes
history
|culture
|time
|education
Definition
A special time in history with its own events and culture.
A distinct period of history, often defined by notable events, developments, or characteristics.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] ages
He has aged a lot since I last saw him.
Sokat öregedett, mióta utoljára láttam.
Wine ages well in oak barrels.
A bor jól érik tölgyfahordóban.
Stress can make you age faster.
She has aged gracefully over the years.
Learner examples
My grandfather has aged a lot this year.
A nagyapám sokat öregedett idén.
People age as time passes.
Az emberek öregszenek, ahogy múlik az idő.
Some cheese ages for months before eating.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'age' as a verb when they mean 'grow up', which refers to becoming an adult, not just getting older.
Meaning
to grow older or look older
Collocations
age quickly
|begin to age
|age gracefully
Synonyms
mature (Can refer to emotional or mental development as well as physical aging.)
Antonyms
rejuvenate (To make someone look or feel younger again.)
Themes
daily life
|biology
|health
|time
Definition
To get older or look older.
To become older in years or to develop physical signs of getting older.
NOUN
A2
4
korhatár
B1
Usage pattern:
the legal age for [activity]
The legal drinking age here is 21.
Itt 21 év az alkoholfogyasztás törvényes korhatára.
You must be of legal age to vote.
A szavazáshoz be kell töltened a törvényes korhatárt.
The driving age varies between countries.
Learner examples
The driving age in my country is 18.
Az én országomban 18 év a vezetés alsó korhatára.
You must be 18 to vote here.
Itt 18 évesnek kell lenned ahhoz, hogy szavazhass.
The drinking age is 21 in the USA.
Meaning
legal minimum years for an activity
Collocations
drinking age
|voting age
|legal age
Synonyms
minimum age (Specifies the lowest legal age allowed for something.)
Antonyms
underage (Being younger than the legal requirement for something.)
Themes
law
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The number of years you must be before you can do something by law.
The number of years that a person must have lived before being legally allowed to do something.
Grammar
Dictionary form
age
IPA
GB/ˈeɪd͡ʒ/
US/ˈeɪd͡ʒ/
Syllables & stress
age (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (age)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: age
- Plural: age, ages
Verb
- Base: age
- 3rd Person Singular: ages
- Present Participle: ageing, aging
- Past: aged
- Past Participle: aged
Word family
Expressions
act your age
1/ˈækt jˈʊɹ ˈeɪd͡ʒ/
idiom
informal
behave appropriately for your age
To behave in a way that is normal for how old you are.
Examples
- Stop playing around and act your age!
- He needs to act his age instead of acting like a teenager.
come of age
1/kˈʌm əv ˈeɪd͡ʒ/
idiom
reach adulthood or maturity
To reach the age when you are an adult or when something becomes fully developed.
Examples
- He came of age at eighteen and inherited the family business.
- The technology has finally come of age and is now widely used.
come of age
1/kˈʌm əv ˈeɪd͡ʒ/
idiom
reach adult status
to become old enough to be considered an adult
Examples
- She came of age during a time of major social change.
- In this country, citizens come of age at 18.
- The novel follows a boy as he comes of age in a small fishing village.
Learner examples
- He came of age last year.
- The story is about a girl coming of age.
of age
1/əv ˈeɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
having reached legal adulthood or maturity
Old enough by law to do something.
Examples
- You must be of age to buy alcohol here.
- She is now of age and can vote.
ripe old age
1/ɹˈaɪp ˈoʊld ˈeɪd͡ʒ/
idiom
having lived to an old age
To have lived for many years and be old.
Examples
- She lived to the ripe old age of 98.
- He reached the ripe old age of 90 and was still healthy.
under age
1/ˈʌndɚ ˈeɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
below legal minimum age
You are younger than the law allows for something.
Examples
- He was caught driving while under age.
- You can't enter the club if you're under age.