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oldish

A1
adjective

Pronunciation

UK

  • /ˈəʊldɪʃ/

US

  • /ˈɔldɪʃ/Canadaadjective

Description

"Oldish" means somewhat old, but not very old. It sits in that middle area where something is clearly not new anymore, yet it does not feel truly old either. You might use it for a car, a house, a phone, or even a person when you want to sound mild rather than direct. It often suggests that age is noticeable, but not extreme.

It is mostly a casual, everyday word. People use it when they want to describe age in a softer, less exact way. For example: "My laptop is getting oldish, so I may need a new one soon." In the same way, saying someone looks "oldish" can sound gentler than simply calling them old, though it still depends on tone and context.

Examples

  1. 1

    Furniture

    The sofa is oldish, but it is still comfortable.

  2. 2

    Used car

    We bought an oldish car because it was cheap and easy to repair.

  3. 3

    Age description

    The man at the counter was oldish, maybe in his late fifties.

  4. 4

    Outdated appearance

    She handed me an oldish-looking map, so I checked the route on my phone too.

Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • oldishadjective