aging

Or age·ing

[ey-jing]

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.

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of aging¹

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

Example Sentences

I think about Eric — how long he’s been gone, how he was robbed of the benefits of aging and hindsight, how he lives on through my work.

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Beyond cancer, these approaches could help to slow immune aging more generally.

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We thought of this as normal aging, but poor sleep increases dementia risk, as well as the risk of obesity, diabetes and depression.

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She previously worked at Mainebiz, the Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram, where she and her team earned a Scripps Howard Award for Community Journalism for a series on aging.

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Companies have begun to focus on overseas markets and cut capacity at home owing to aging consumers, aging workers, and lagging incomes.

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