on in years

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Adjective

on in years (not generally comparable, comparative more on in years, superlative most on in years)

1. (idiomatic, mildly euphemistic) Old; advanced in age.
   • 1853, Charles Dickens, The Schoolboy's Story:

     Being rather young at present—I am getting on in years, but still I am rather young—I have no particular adventures of my own to fall back upon.

   • 1893, William Butler Yeats, “An Enduring Heart”, in The Celtic Twilight:

     More years went by, and his wife was dead, and he well on in years.

   • 1905, George Bernard Shaw, Major Barbara, act 3:

     I am getting on in years; and my partner Lazarus has at last made a stand and insisted that the succession must be settled.

   • 1909, F. Marion Crawford, chapter 20, in A Roman Singer:

     [O]ld as I am,—I do not mean aged, but well on in years,—I believe in love still.

   • 2004 May 24, Alice Park, “Health: Old Bones, New Hope”, in Time:

     Brittle bones can be more than just a bother for anyone who is getting on in years.

Usage notes

Often preceded by the verb get.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:elderly