Vocapedia
Log inTry for Free

Looking up...

Words

  • Words of the Year
  • Recent Lookups
  • My Dictionary

Languages

  • English
  • Vietnamese
  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Korean
  • German

Features

  • Words of the Year
  • My Collections List
  • Reviews
  • Learning Resources
  • Community Collections

Learn

  • How It Works
  • Study Guides
  • Language Tips
  • FAQ
  • Getting Started
  • For Individuals
  • For Teachers

Community

  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Help Center
  • Partnerships

About

  • About Vocapedia
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
  • GDPR Compliance
© 2026 Vocapedia. All rights reserved.

old married

/oʊld ˈmɛrɪd/
adjective phrase★Intermediate💡 long-term married
informal

Describing people who have been married for a long time and exhibit the typical behaviors or attitudes of long-term spouses.

The old married couple shared a quiet understanding without needing to speak.

The phrase emphasizes their long-standing familiarity and comfort with each other.

She rolled her eyes at his jokes, a habit of old married people.

The phrase highlights their shared history and predictable reactions.

💡

Often used to describe couples who have developed a routine or predictable dynamic over many years of marriage.

Collocations

old married couplea pair who have been married for many years and act in a familiar wayold married peopleindividuals who have been married for a long time

Synonyms

long-marriedlong-term marriedlongtime married

Antonyms

newlywedsrecently married

Related Phrases

settle into married lifephrase
to become comfortable with the routines and expectations of marriage
married blissphrase
the state of being happily married

💡Pro Tip

Avoid literal interpretation

Do not confuse this phrase with the literal meaning of 'old' (elderly) and 'married.' It refers to the duration of the marriage, not the age of the individuals.

⚡Gold Rule

Context matters

Use 'old married' to describe the behaviors or attitudes of long-term couples, not their physical age or the legal duration of their marriage.

📖Word Origin

The phrase combines 'old' (indicating long duration) with 'married' (the state of being wed). The usage emerged in the 19th century to describe couples who had been married for many years, emphasizing their shared history and predictable behaviors.

📝Usage Notes

Primarily used in informal contexts to describe the behaviors or attitudes of long-term married couples. It can carry a slightly humorous or affectionate tone, implying a stereotypical dynamic (e.g., finishing each other's sentences, shared habits). Not typically used in formal or legal contexts.

Word Breakdown

old
long-standing or long-duration
adjective
+
married
the state of being in a marriage
adjective
English Dictionary

Learning Progress

Track your learning journey!

• Save words to build your vocabulary

• Monitor your daily streak

• Get personalized review reminders

• See words learned statistics

Log in to access advanced features and track your progress!

Go to Dashboard →

Words of the Year

The most notable words that defined each year. Discover the vocabulary that shaped our world.