eldest
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of eldest
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English eldesta, superlative of eald, ald; see old
Explanation
Someone who's described as eldest in their family was born first. Your eldest sister is the oldest one. Use the adjective eldest when you're describing people in terms of birth order: the oldest is the eldest. Your eldest friend is older than your other friends. You can also use the word as a noun, meaning "firstborn." Your mom might introduce you by saying, "This is my eldest." It's a somewhat formal, old fashioned word, much less popular today than "oldest."
Vocabulary lists containing eldest
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.
The boys' father said: "We were in the hotel room when the eldest burst into the room. He was limping and there was blood everywhere after he cut all his feet leaving the spa."
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
In his place, his eldest son Flavio is running for the presidency in October elections.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
The eldest McCaffrey son called the 49ers star “the most intentional person I know.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
His eldest son, Flávio Bolsonaro, is running against da Silva in the election this fall.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
Mom pointed at my eldest brother, Michael, and asked, “Should we bring Robert home?”
From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge
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.
