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Father Time

American  

noun

  1. the personification of time as an old man, usually in a white robe, having a white beard, and carrying a scythe.

Father Time British  

noun

  1. time personified as an old bearded man, usually carrying a scythe and an hourglass

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Only this time, he was also competing against Father Time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

But there’s one milestone no man, not even Father Time, can ever take away from Ferragamo.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2026

He also worked with another ancient quarterback who defied Father Time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

Father Time is clearly catching up with him like everyone else.

From BBC • Sep. 5, 2025

Father Time had toffee chips in his beard.

From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.