aging

American  

[ey-jing] / ˈeɪ dʒɪŋ /

Or ageing

noun

1. the process of becoming old or older.

   The aging of the population has had an effect on state revenues.

2. the process of bringing a product, material, etc., to maturity or a state fit for use.

   the proper aging of cheese in controlled conditions of temperature and humidity.

3. the process of making something seem older than it is.

   The leather tabletop is a recent replacement with deliberate aging and antiquing.

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adjective

1. becoming old or older; showing signs of growing old.

   Many of us are caring for an aging parent in declining health.

2. giving the appearance of being old or older.

   They used aging makeup on some of the actors instead of recasting the roles.

Etymology

Origin of aging

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; age ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun; age ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective

Explanation

Aging means growing older. You could say that your glamorous grandparents make aging look easy. The process of getting older, especially as people reach middle age and beyond, is called aging, and it's also an adjective that describes someone or something going through this process. Your aging French teacher might find it harder and harder to read her own writing on the chalkboard, and an aging motorcycle probably needs to be repaired more often. The verb age, or "grow older," is at the heart of aging, and its Latin root is aevum, "lifetime."

Example Sentences

Aging is not just a diminishment, but an opportunity to keep evolving, often in surprising ways.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Aging takes a serious toll on the hippocampus, the part of the brain that plays a central role in learning and memory.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

Administration on Aging — and the nonprofit National Adult Protective Services Association will also have further steps you can take, in addition to contacting his primary physician for an appointment for a mental assessment.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

Their findings, published in Nature Aging on February 27, 2026, show that structural differences in three plasma proteins are strongly linked to Alzheimer's status.

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2026

Aging King Lotharon said, “I’ve been thinking it’s really getting to be about time for Humperdinck to pick a bride.”

From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman