ageing
B2Neutral/Formal. The spelling 'ageing' is typical in formal and institutional contexts in British English.
Definition
Meaning
The natural, gradual process of growing older.
The process of maturing, developing, or undergoing change over time, applicable to objects, concepts, and populations as well as individuals.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Functions primarily as a noun (the process) and an adjective (describing someone/something that is getting older). The concept can be neutral (natural progression), positive (maturation, wisdom), or negative (decline, obsolescence) depending on context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The primary difference is spelling. British English strongly prefers 'ageing'. American English exclusively uses the spelling 'aging'. Both spellings are pronounced the same.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties for the spelling used.
Frequency
'Ageing' is standard in the UK, Commonwealth nations, and in international organizations using British English conventions (e.g., WHO reports). 'Aging' dominates in all US contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the ageing of + [NOUN PHRASE] (e.g., the ageing of the population)ageing + [ADVERB] (e.g., ageing gracefully, ageing rapidly)ageing + [NOUN] (as a compound adjective, e.g., ageing politician)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “ageing like fine wine”
- “ageing gracefully”
- “showing one's age”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Concerns about an ageing workforce and succession planning.
Academic
Demographic studies on population ageing and its socioeconomic impacts.
Everyday
Talking about parents getting older or noticing grey hairs.
Technical
In materials science, the process of ageing in metals or polymers; in biology, cellular ageing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He is ageing well.
- The cheese is ageing in the cellar.
American English
- He is aging well.
- The cheese is aging in the cellar.
adverb
British English
- This model simulates ageing rapidly.
- Not commonly used as a standalone adverb.
American English
- This model simulates aging rapidly.
- Not commonly used as a standalone adverb.
adjective
British English
- An ageing population is a major challenge.
- They installed an anti-ageing cream dispenser.
American English
- An aging population is a major challenge.
- They installed an anti-aging cream dispenser.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandfather is ageing.
- The cat is ageing quickly.
- The ageing process affects everyone.
- Scientists are studying healthy ageing.
- Population ageing presents challenges for pension systems.
- The government has a new strategy for an ageing society.
- The relentless ageing of the workforce necessitates a review of retirement policies.
- Researchers are investigating compounds that could decelerate cellular ageing.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the extra 'e' in 'ageing' as representing 'England'.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGEING IS A JOURNEY (embarking on the journey of ageing), AGEING IS DETERIORATION (ageing infrastructure), AGEING IS RIPENING (ageing like fine wine).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not directly translate as "возраст" (возраст = age, a number/life stage). Use "старение" for the process.
- Be careful with adjective placement: 'ageing population' is 'стареющее население', not 'население старения'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'ageing' in American English contexts.
- Using 'aging' in formal British English writing.
- Confusing the noun 'ageing' (process) with the noun 'age' (number of years lived).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the spelling 'ageing' considered standard?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct, but they belong to different spelling conventions. 'Ageing' is standard in British English. 'Aging' is standard in American English.
Yes, very commonly. It describes something that is becoming older (e.g., an ageing actor, ageing infrastructure).
'Old' describes a state of having existed for a long time. 'Ageing' describes the active *process* of becoming older. A person can be 'old'. A person, population, or machine can be 'ageing'.
Typically, yes, when used as a compound adjective before a noun (e.g., anti-ageing cream). It may be written without a hyphen (antiaging) in some commercial or informal contexts, but the hyphenated form is more standard.