Learn how to use the comparative “older” and superlative “oldest” with example sentences and differences.

What is the comparative form of “born”?

The comparative form of “born” is “older”.

Example

My sister is older than me.

Example

He is older than his classmates.

What is the superlative form of “born”?

The superlative form of “born” is “oldest”.

Example

Among all the siblings, she is the oldest.

Example

He is the oldest person in the room.

Why is this expression not used with most, more?

'Most' and 'more' are generally not used with old, older, and oldest. They’re considered regular comparatives and superlatives. The forms 'more old' and 'most old' are not used because they sound awkward. Instead, older and oldest are the correct and preferred forms to use.

Does this expression have an irregular comparative/superlative form?

Old follows the standard pattern for forming comparatives and superlatives. So, to summarize: Comparative: Old → Older Superlative: Old → Oldest

Expressions with similar meanings to “older”

elder

Used to describe someone who is older in terms of age or seniority

Example

The elder brother took care of his younger siblings.

more mature

Used to indicate someone who is older in terms of emotional or mental development

Example

She is more mature than her peers and handles situations with wisdom.

more seasoned

Used to describe someone who is older and has more experience

Example

The more seasoned employee was able to handle the difficult task with ease.

Expressions with similar meanings to “oldest”

eldest

Similar to oldest, this emphasizes being the oldest in terms of age or seniority

Example

The eldest sibling is responsible for taking care of the younger ones.

most mature

Used to describe someone who is the oldest in terms of emotional or mental development

Example

She is the most mature student in her class and often gives wise advice.

most seasoned

Used to describe someone who is the oldest and has the most experience

Example

The most seasoned employee was chosen to lead the team due to their extensive knowledge.

Using than with comparative “older”

When using the comparative form older to compare two things, you would use than to connect the two parts of the comparison: Example: "She is older than her brother." Here, than is used to show that the age of 'her' is greater than the age of her brother.

How can I use this expression in context?

“older” and “oldest” can be used in a variety of situations to compare speed.

• 1. Siblings

  He is the oldest among his brothers and sisters.

  He is the oldest among his brothers and sisters.

• 2. Classmates

  She is older than her classmates.

  She is older than her classmates.

• 3. Employees

  The most seasoned employee has been with the company for 20 years.

  The most seasoned employee has been with the company for 20 years.

• 4. Leadership

  He is the oldest person in the organization and has a wealth of experience.

  He is the oldest person in the organization and has a wealth of experience.

• 5. Experience

  The most seasoned professional in the team provided valuable insights.

  The most seasoned professional in the team provided valuable insights.

Related idioms and phrases

Old as the hills

Extremely old or ancient.

Example

The ruins of the temple are old as the hills.

Old habits die hard

It's difficult to change or get rid of long-standing habits.

Example

Even though he knows smoking is bad for his health, old habits die hard and he still struggles to quit.

Old wives' tale

A traditional belief or superstition that is often untrue or based on outdated knowledge.

Example

The idea that eating carrots improves eyesight is just an old wives' tale.