A2 2K

Ancient

🇬🇧 UK /["/ˈeɪnʃənt/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/ˈeɪnʃənt/"]/

Meaning of Ancient

belonging to a period of history that is thousands of years in the past

In simple words: Very old or from a long time ago.

Ancient in a sentence

• Archaeologists are excavating the ruined temples of this **ancient civilization**.
• **ancient Greece/Egypt/Rome**
• the ancient city of Petra
• an ancient oak tree
• ancient traditions/culture
• the ancient Japanese art of origami
• He's ancient—he must be at least fifty!
• The man looked positively ancient.
• The area is still covered by huge ancient forests.

How to use Ancient

Used to describe something belonging to a distant past, often related to civilizations or artifacts. Avoid in casual conversations unless discussing history or archaeology.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think 'ancient' like 'ancestors' — both have roots in long ago times.

Related words

Collocations with Ancient

• be
• look
• extremely
• fairly
• very

Synonyms for Ancient

• archaic
• old
• antique
• historical
• primitive

Opposites of Ancient

• modern
• new
• contemporary

Common mistakes with Ancient

• Confused with 'antique' which specifically means old items with value.
• Overused to describe anything old, rather than specifically old in the historical sense.
• Incorrectly pronounced, often with stress on the second syllable.

Frequently asked questions about Ancient

What does Ancient mean?

Very old or from a long time ago.

What is the definition of Ancient?

belonging to a period of history that is thousands of years in the past

How do you use Ancient in a sentence?

Archaeologists are excavating the ruined temples of this **ancient civilization**.

Can you give another example of Ancient?

**ancient Greece/Egypt/Rome**

What are synonyms for Ancient?

Common alternatives include archaic, old, antique, historical, primitive.

What is the opposite of Ancient?

Opposite meanings include modern, new, contemporary.

What words go with Ancient?

It commonly pairs with be, look, extremely, fairly, very.

What are common mistakes when using Ancient?

Confused with 'antique' which specifically means old items with value. Overused to describe anything old, rather than specifically old in the historical sense. Incorrectly pronounced, often with stress on the second syllable.

How do you pronounce Ancient?

US: /["/ˈeɪnʃənt/"]/, UK: /["/ˈeɪnʃənt/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use Ancient?

Used to describe something belonging to a distant past, often related to civilizations or artifacts. Avoid in casual conversations unless discussing history or archaeology.

What CEFR level is Ancient?

"Ancient" is at A2 level on the CEFR scale.