WordGarden.ioeldest
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈɛldəst/
US
- /ˈɛldəst/
Meanings
Adjective
oldest among siblings, family members, or a related group of people
Noun
the oldest person, especially the oldest child in a family
Beyond the definition
This word usually points to the one born first in a family. It often appears when people speak about brothers, sisters, sons, or daughters: "the eldest sister," "their eldest child." It has a slightly more formal and story-like feel than "oldest," and it often brings in ideas of family order, duty, or inheritance.
You will often meet it in tales, family histories, and everyday talk about siblings. If someone says, "He is the eldest of four children," the meaning is simple: he was born before the others. Sometimes the word also hints at extra responsibility, but its main job is to show place in the family line.
This word is most often used for the child in a family who was born first. You will usually see it with family words such as "son," "daughter," "brother," "sister," or "child." For example, "She is the eldest of three sisters" tells you that she was born before the other two.
Compared with "oldest," this word is narrower and more specific. "Oldest" can describe almost anything by age, from a person to a building or a tree. "Eldest" usually stays close to family relationships, and because of that, it often sounds a little more formal, literary, or traditional.
In stories, the word often carries a feeling beyond simple age. The eldest child may be expected to lead, inherit, protect younger children, or represent the family. That extra feeling comes from culture and context, though, not from the core meaning itself. At its heart, the word still means "born first among the children in a family."
You may also see it in phrases about inheritance, titles, and family history: "the eldest son," "their eldest daughter," "the eldest child inherited the house." These uses connect the word with order of birth and the roles that sometimes come with it.
So when you hear this word, picture the first child in a family line. It is a simple idea, but it often arrives wrapped in stories of duty, tradition, and the quiet weight of being first.
Examples
- 1
Family order
She is the eldest of three sisters.
- 2
Family business
Their eldest son now runs the family restaurant.
- 3
Family responsibility
As the eldest child, he often felt responsible for his younger brothers.
- 4
Family shorthand
Our eldest is starting high school this fall.
- Phraseour eldest
our eldest child
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Inheritance
In the novel, the family home is left to the eldest daughter.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- eldestnounadjective