ancient

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "ancient" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to describe things that are very old, such as artifacts, buildings, or languages. Example sentence: Historians have discovered ancient artifacts during their excavations in the city.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In Cappadocia, the thrill of hurtling along a trail on two wheels is amplified by its otherworldly landscape of rock pillars, known as "fairy chimneys", many reaching more than 40 metres high, as well as its cave houses and ancient Byzantine churches.

The Guardian - Travel

You'll pass through the dense forest of Piano Provenzano, across ancient lava flows and to elevations with views across the Ionian Sea.

The Guardian - Travel

The ancient Zoroastrian festival marking the spring equinox, Nowruz, which started on Saturday, encompasses the revered tradition of Eid-Didani, or visiting one another.

The Guardian

A kind of ancient episode of Cribs, if you will.

The Guardian - Film

In Wales, the National Theatre is working with poet and novelist Owen Sheers in ancient woodland, inspired by his poem Mametz Wood, which tells of the battle in which 4,000 of the 38th Welsh division were killed or wounded.

The Guardian

Between 5% and 9% used the "incredibly ancient" Wired Equivalent Privacy WEPprotocolcol, which was supposed to protect people's data moving around routers, but has known vulnerabilities and should not be used anywhere, Lyne said.

The Guardian - Tech

Tucked away under ancient arches just by the bustling San Bartolomeo square, the Rosticceria is basically an old-fashioned self-service cafeteria, dishing up excellent and inexpensive comfort food - a "primo" for €6, followed by roast chicken, or "baccala mantecato", the traditional creamy salt cod.

The Guardian - Travel

So far, so Escoffier, but Otto recently upped the ante with an even more ancient lobster press.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The European convention on human rights and fundamental freedoms (to give it its full title), as scheduled in the Human Rights Act 1998, is an outcrop of the international law of human rights, and is not, other than remotely, derived from the ancient event of our constitutional history at Runnymede 800 years ago.

The Guardian

The ancient race of vinyl enthusiasts who had once haunted record stores and swap meets was dying out, superseded by a mutant breed of torrent obsessives.

The Guardian - Books

Sounds like a 1970s porno, but is actually an ancient and thoroughly respectable Arabic pastime, and the second it started, it immediately went to the top of my "Why El Fenn is better than everywhere else" list.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing historical periods, use "ancient" to denote the era before the Middle Ages, particularly in European contexts. For other regions, specify the civilization (e.g. "ancient" Egyptian, "ancient" Chinese).

Common error

Avoid using "ancient" to describe something that is merely old. "Ancient" typically refers to periods predating the Middle Ages. For more recent times, use "old", "historic", or more specific terms.

Linguistic Context

The word "ancient" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that they belong to or originate from a distant past. Ludwig examples show its usage across various domains, which makes it flexible.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Travel

15%

Arts

10%

Less common in

Lifestyle

5%

Books

5%

Opinion

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ancient" is a versatile adjective used to describe things from a distant past, particularly before the Middle Ages. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, including News & Media, Travel, and Arts. While its register is generally neutral, it leans towards formal in academic settings. When using "ancient", be mindful of its scope to avoid overgeneralization. Consider alternatives like "age-old" or "historic" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Source quality is high, indicating reliable usage in authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

age-old

Emphasizes the great age and long-standing nature of something.

old

A simpler term indicating something that has existed for a long time.

historic

Highlights the importance of something in history.

time-honored

Suggests a tradition or practice that has been respected over time.

venerable

Implies respect and admiration due to age and historical significance.

antediluvian

Refers to something extremely old, often with a sense of being outdated.

archaic

Describes something old and no longer in common use.

classical

Relates to the culture of ancient Greece or Rome, or something of enduring value.

primeval

Refers to the earliest period in the history of the world.

of bygone eras

Highlights a connection to a past time.

FAQs

How is "ancient" used in a sentence?

"Ancient" is used to describe something from a distant past, like in the sentence "The archaeologists discovered "ancient artifacts" during the excavation."

What words are similar to "ancient"?

Similar words include "age-old", "historic", and "archaic". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to refer to something from the 1800s as "ancient"?

No, it's not typically appropriate. "Ancient" refers to much earlier periods, generally before the Middle Ages. Something from the 1800s would be better described as "old", "historical", or "vintage".

What's the difference between "ancient" and "antique"?

"Ancient" refers to a time period, while "antique" usually describes an object that is old and often valuable. An object can be antique without being from ancient times.