old-time

adjective

ˈōl(d)-ˈtīm 

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of an earlier period

old-time songs

2

: of long standing

old-time residents

Synonyms of old-time

• vintage
• antique
• retro
• traditional
• historical
• historic
• antiquated

Examples of old-time in a Sentence

an old-time song that took the long-married couple back to when they were first dating

Recent Examples on the Web

Everybody has a favorite old-time neighborhood pizza stand or cafe. — Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026

Bluegrass jams attract spectators who marvel at the players’ pyrotechnics; old-time jams get people on their feet. — David Alm, Longreads, 1 Oct. 2026

For this tigress, the elder Singh urged a haka, an old-time beat. — Leslie E. Tassell, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026

The shop, both a drug store and old-time fountain shop, offers fountain sodas as well as subs and sandwiches. — Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for old-time

• airtime
• bedtime
• daytime
• downtime
• enzyme
• halftime
• lifetime
• longtime
• lunchtime
• mealtime
• meantime
• nighttime

Kids Definition

old-time

adjective

ˌōl(d)-ˌtīm

1

: of, relating to, or typical of an earlier period

2

: of long standing

old-time residents