Antique: Meaning, Examples, and Usage

Meaning 1：very old and often valuable (antique)

antique 🔊

/ænˈtiːk/

adj.

Very old, from the ancient past, often used to describe valuable old items like furniture or art.

Antique Chinese vase with intricate blue patterns on display

very old and often valuable 🔊

➕

/ˈveri oʊld ænd ˈɔːfən ˈvæljuəbl/

adj.

Describes objects that are from a past era, typically over 100 years old, and are considered collectible or historically significant.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'antiquus' (ancient), from 'ante' (before) + '-iquus' (adjective suffix).

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'antique' sounds like 'ancient teak' — a durable wood used in old, valuable furniture.

📖 Example

My grandmother still has an antique dressing table that her own grandmother used. 🔊 My grandmother still has an antique dressing table that her own grandmother used.

🔗 Collocations

antique furniture – Furniture that is very old, often valuable and made by traditional methods.

antique shop – A store that sells old and collectible items.

antique vase – A very old decorative container, often made of ceramic or glass, valued for its age and craftsmanship.

🔄 Synonyms

vintage (adj.) – Relating to or denoting something from a past era, especially one that is considered classic or high-quality (often younger than antique, e.g., from 1920s-1980s).

old (adj.) – Having existed for a long time; not new.

ancient (adj.) – Belonging to the distant past, especially before the end of the Roman Empire in Western history.

🚫 Antonyms

modern (adj.) – Relating to the present or recent times, as opposed to the distant past.

new (adj.) – Not existing before; recently made or discovered.

contemporary (adj.) – Living or occurring at the same time; modern in style.

🌱 Derivatives

antiquity (n.) – The ancient past, especially the period before the Middle Ages.

antiquarian (n./adj.) – A person who studies or collects ancient objects or relics.

📖 Cultural Story

Borrowed via French from Latin 'antiquus', meaning 'former, ancient'. In English, it evolved to describe old but valuable objects, especially furniture and art from earlier eras.