old soul

[ohld sohl]

noun

1. a person, especially a child or young person, who demonstrates a maturity, understanding, or seriousness that is typical of someone much older.

   Our daughter was always so thoughtful and solemn, even as a baby—everyone says she’s an old soul.

Word History and Origins

Origin of old soul¹

First recorded in 1750–60; in reference to an old person

Example Sentences

His family called him “an old soul” because of how often he acted older than his age.

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Reinhart related to Harper because as a kid, she was an “old soul” who had “a melancholy air” and found it difficult to fit socially.

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Amid the digital luster of mid-’90s rap and R&B, the craftsmanship of his 1995 debut, “Brown Sugar,” marked him as an old soul — indeed as one of the handsome faces of what became known as neo-soul: a marriage of ’70s-style themes and song structures with the attitude and rhythmic swagger of hip-hop.

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Joaquin was an old soul, Patricia says with a warm smile — her eyes sad but glowing.

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Old soul is often a trite, overused expression, but when you grow up in a famous family in the public eye, as Noah Cyrus has, it is an accurate one — her father is country music veteran Billy Ray Cyrus and her sister is pop star Miley Cyrus.

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