antique

1.nounB1

Definition

an old object, such as furniture, art, or silver, that people value for its age, beauty, rarity, or fine workmanship.

Example

At the Sunday market, Leo bought an antique clock from 1890.

an antique + object

The family kept the vase as an antique instead of using it.

Common collocations

antique clock
antique silver
antique furniture
collect antiques
real antique

Synonyms

collectible
focuses on the fact that people collect it; it may be newer than an antique
heirloom
stresses family history more than market value
artifact
more common for historical or archaeological objects in study or museums

Antonyms

reproduction
a later copy made to look like an older original
modern piece
a recently made object rather than one from the past

Grammar Patterns

an antique

buy/sell/collect antiques

Usage Note

Usually names movable objects such as clocks, tables, mirrors, jewelry, or cars. In legal or customs use, the age requirement can be stricter than in everyday conversation.

Common Mistakes

This old chair is an antique because it is broken.

This old chair is an antique because it is over a hundred years old and well made.

age alone is not enough; the object is usually valued as well.

2.noun

Definition

a person or thing seen as very old, or as no longer suited to present-day ways.

Example

Dad still uses a flip phone and calls his laptop an antique.

call something an antique

In the new office, paper files suddenly looked like antiques.

Common collocations

be an antique
call someone an antique
call something an antique
look like an antique

Synonyms

relic
suggests something left over from the past
fossil
more informal and often more insulting for a person with old ideas
old-timer
friendlier and used mainly for people

Antonyms

trendsetter
someone who adopts or starts new styles
latest model
a new and up-to-date thing

Grammar Patterns

be an antique

call someone/something an antique

Usage Note

Often humorous, but it can sound rude if said directly about a person. Distinguish from sense 1, which refers to a valuable old object rather than a person or outdated thing.

Common Mistakes

My grandfather is a real antique' in a formal speech.

My grandfather is very old' in a formal speech.

this sense sounds joking and can seem disrespectful when used seriously about people.

1.adjectiveB1

Definition

describing an object from the past whose age, beauty, rarity, or skilled making gives it special value.

Example

The Chens saved for months to buy an antique dining table.

antique + furniture noun

An antique mirror hung above the fireplace in Mrs. Lin's house.

Common collocations

antique table
antique mirror
antique silver
antique furniture
antique vase

Synonyms

vintage
often used for items from a past period, but it does not require the same age or value as antique
period
used especially for furniture or clothing from a particular historical time
collectible
stresses desirability to collectors more than age or workmanship

Antonyms

modern
made in recent times or current in style
reproduction
made later in the style of an older object

Grammar Patterns

antique + object noun

Usage Note

Almost always modifies object nouns, not people. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense adds the idea that the old object is prized, not merely old or behind the times.

Common Mistakes

The museum studies antique Greece.

The museum studies ancient Greece.

use 'ancient' for civilizations and historical periods, not 'antique'.

2.adjective

Definition

extremely old, or no longer in step with modern taste, ideas, or methods.

Example

This classroom projector feels antique beside the new smart screen.

antique = old-fashioned

By today's rules, that dress code sounds almost antique.

sound antique

Common collocations

antique machine
antique system
antique ideas
sound antique
feel antique

Synonyms

old
the neutral everyday choice; antique sounds stronger or more marked
dated
focuses on being no longer fashionable or suitable now
old-fashioned
stresses style, ideas, or habits from an earlier time

Antonyms

modern
belonging to present times or current style
up-to-date
matching current knowledge, practice, or fashion

Grammar Patterns

seem/sound antique

antique + machine/idea/system

Usage Note

Can sound approving when it simply stresses age, but with ideas, systems, or rules it often suggests they are out of date. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about valued old objects.

Common Mistakes

We visited an antique temple in Greece.

We visited an ancient temple in Greece.

for historic places from long ago, 'ancient' is usually the better word.

3.adjective

Definition

connected with buying, selling, showing, or working with antiques.

Example

Her parents run an antique shop near Tainan Station.

antique + shop

The antique dealer wrapped the lamp in three layers of paper.

antique dealer

Common collocations

antique shop
antique dealer
antique fair
antique trade
antique market

Synonyms

antiquarian
more formal and often linked to books, study, or specialist trade
secondhand
broader; many secondhand goods are not antiques

Grammar Patterns

antique + shop/dealer/fair/trade

Usage Note

Usually appears before trade nouns such as shop, dealer, market, fair, or trade. It does not describe the age of one object by itself; use sense 1 or 2 for that.

1.verbtransitive

Definition

to paint, finish, or alter something so it looks like an older piece.

Example

Marco antiqued the pine table with dark wax and a rough cloth.

antique + furniture object

For the play, art students antiqued the frame before opening night.

Common collocations

antique a table
antique the wood
antique a frame
antique a mirror

Synonyms

age
can mean make something seem older, but it is broader and less tied to decoration
distress
used especially for giving furniture or wood a worn surface
refinish
broader; may change the surface without making it look old

Antonyms

modernize
change something so it looks newer or more current
restore
bring something back to good condition, not necessarily give it an aged look

Grammar Patterns

antique + object

Usage Note

Object is usually wood, metal, furniture, or a frame. Common in craft and home-decor writing, where the goal is appearance rather than repair.

Common Mistakes

They antiqued the broken cabinet yesterday.

They repaired the broken cabinet yesterday.

this sense means make something look old, not fix damage.

2.verbintransitive

Definition

to spend time visiting shops, fairs, or markets in search of antiques.

Example

On Saturdays, Elena antiques at village markets with her aunt.

antique + at + place

Retired teachers sometimes antique together during bus trips in Europe.

Common collocations

antique at markets
antique on weekends
antique for hours
antique together

Synonyms

browse
general word for looking around, not only for antiques
shop
broader and neutral; it does not suggest old collectible goods
hunt
stresses searching actively for a wanted item

Grammar Patterns

antique + at/in + place

Usage Note

Rare as a simple verb in modern English; many speakers more often say 'go antiquing'. This sense does not take the thing you buy as a direct object.

Common Mistakes

We antiqued a clock all afternoon.

We antiqued all afternoon and found a clock.

the direct object is not the item you are shopping for in this sense.

Word family

antiquity
nounC2
antiquarian
adjectiveC2
antiquarian
nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Antique' is used for an old object valued for age, beauty, rarity, or workmanship. 'Vintage' can also sound special and old, but it is usually wider and younger: people speak of vintage clothes, wine, or posters that are not necessarily true antiques. 'Collectible' focuses on the fact that people want to collect something; a collectible toy may be much newer than an antique clock. 'Heirloom' stresses family history and passing an object down through generations. 'Artifact' is more historical and museum-like, especially for objects studied as evidence of an earlier culture. So a silver box from your grandmother may be both an antique and an heirloom, while a Roman coin in a museum is more naturally called an artifact.

antique ↗vintage ↗collectible ↗heirloomartifact ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

antique shop
antique dealer
antique market
antique fair
antique furniture

Phrases

buy antiques
sell antiques
collect antiques

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

'Antique' came into English from French 'antique', which in turn came from Latin 'antiquus', meaning old or belonging to earlier times. At first the word simply pointed to age. Later it became closely connected with objects from the past that people prize for beauty, rarity, or skilled workmanship. From that same idea, English also developed the business use seen in phrases like 'antique shop' and the rare verb meaning to make something look older. The broader sense 'old-fashioned' still keeps the central idea of belonging more to the past than to the present.

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antique

antique — noun

1. an old object, such as furniture, art, or silver, that people value for its age,

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. a person or thing seen as very old, or as no longer suited to present-day ways.

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

antique — adjective

1. describing an object from the past whose age, beauty, rarity, or skilled making

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. extremely old, or no longer in step with modern taste, ideas, or methods.

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. connected with buying, selling, showing, or working with antiques.

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

antique — verb

1. to paint, finish, or alter something so it looks like an older piece.

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to spend time visiting shops, fairs, or markets in search of antiques.

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

Etymology

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