ageing

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "ageing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is the present participle form of the verb "age". You can use it as an adjective to describe something that is getting older, for example: "My ageing grandfather still loves to play chess."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Related: How will an ageing population affect legacy fundraising?

The Guardian

And if your twenties are now to be spent hating your hideously ageing face anyway, do you have to go back even further?

The Guardian - Opinion

We need to improve the quality of services and meet rising demand – driven by an ageing population and rising levels of long term illness – from broadly flat, real terms budgets.

The Guardian

Over three decades of work, 113 cases had been resolved by the slowly ageing grandmothers, but despite this, Estela Carlotto's missing grandson remained unaccounted for, which left a deep, unhealed wound in the nation's psyche.

The Guardian

Most obviously, we have an ageing population and in just 10 years' time, it is estimated that 18 million people will have at least one long-term condition.

The Guardian

Kwasi Kwarteng is Conservative MP for Spelthorne Our population is ageing and with that comes and increasing proportion of our social security spend going to pensions.

The Guardian - Opinion

This media hysteria denies the fact that immigration helps our economy and is a great boon to tackling the coming demographic imbalanced posed by our ageing population.

The Guardian

Related: South Africa's ageing white mercenaries who helped turn tide on Boko Haram In the capital Abuja on Monday, Mohammed Salihu, a supporter who fled his north-eastern home-state of Borno to escape Boko Haram's bombings last year, had one thing on his mind.

The Guardian

"Most of the candidates we talk to are living with parents, in many cases ageing parents, and all the ones that come across our radar, are universally keen to work".

The Guardian - Business

Akram Khan's dance piece created to mark the 100th anniversary of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring will also feature, along with a retrospective of the rapidly ageing Young British Artists, a collection of Wedgwood pottery, and a celebration of Shakespeare by companies including the RSC and the Young Vic.

The Guardian

It's promising to see a government grappling with the economic implications of an ageing population.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing population trends, use "ageing" to refer to the increasing proportion of older individuals within a society. For example, "The ageing population presents significant challenges for healthcare systems".

Common error

While "ageing" describes the process of getting older, "old" refers to a state of being. Use "ageing" to describe a dynamic process and "old" to describe a static condition.

Linguistic Context

The term "ageing" primarily functions as a present participle of the verb 'age', often used adjectivally. It describes the process of growing older or maturing. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a versatile term applied to various contexts from personal appearance to societal trends.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "ageing" is a versatile word primarily functioning as a present participle, used to describe the process of growing older. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable. Its usage spans various contexts, from discussing population trends to describing personal appearance, maintaining a generally neutral register. Ludwig examples show its frequency in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific domains. While "ageing" and "aging" are both correct, the former is more common in British English. Remember to use "ageing" to describe the process of getting older, not as a static state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

getting older

This alternative is a more straightforward and common way to describe the process of aging.

maturing

This alternative suggests a positive development and reaching full potential.

advancing in years

This alternative offers a more formal and somewhat euphemistic way to describe aging.

becoming elderly

This alternative focuses on the transition to old age.

senescing

This is a scientific term for aging, referring to the process of senescence.

on the decline

This phrase is used when emphasizing the deteriorating aspects of aging.

past its prime

This alternative suggests a loss of vigor and effectiveness due to age.

showing its age

This phrase highlights the visible signs of aging.

in its twilight years

This alternative is a metaphorical and poetic way to describe the final stage of life.

long in the tooth

This is an idiomatic and informal expression for being old.

FAQs

How to use "ageing" in a sentence?

You can use "ageing" as an adjective to describe something or someone that is getting older, for example: "The "ageing infrastructure" needs to be replaced."

What can I say instead of "ageing"?

You can use alternatives like "getting older", "maturing", or "advancing in years" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "ageing" or "aging"?

Both spellings are correct, but "ageing" is more common in British English, while "aging" is preferred in American English. Choose the spelling appropriate for your audience.

What's the difference between "ageing" and "elderly"?

"Ageing" refers to the process of becoming older, while "elderly" describes the state of being old or advanced in age. "Elderly" is typically used as an adjective before a noun, for example: "elderly care".