Meaning & use
adage
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Meaning
nouncountable
A traditional saying that expresses a general truth or piece of wisdom, based on long experience.
Grammar: Countable: an adage, the adage, adages.
Patterns
- an old adage
- as the adage goes
- the adage that ...
There's an old adage that says, 'Actions speak louder than words.'
My grandmother often quoted the adage, 'A stitch in time saves nine.'
The adage 'You can't judge a book by its cover' is certainly true here.
Word forms
| plural | adages |
|---|
Common combinations
- old adage
- As the old adage goes, 'Better late than never.'
- popular adage
- The popular adage 'No pain, no gain' motivates many athletes.
- as the adage goes
- As the adage goes, 'The early bird catches the worm.'
- quote an adage
- He likes to quote an adage to make his point.
Synonyms and how they differ
- proverb
- A proverb is a short, well-known saying that gives advice; an adage is similar but often emphasizes wisdom from long experience.
- saying
- A saying is any common expression, while an adage is specifically a traditional one that conveys a general truth.
- maxim
- A maxim is a rule of conduct, often more formal; an adage is more about general wisdom.
Word family
- adagial adjective
- Relating to or resembling an adage; rare.
Commonly confused: adage or adage?
adage vs adage
Not to be confused with 'adagio', a musical term meaning slowly.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'adage' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The correct answer is B: 'adage' is a noun meaning a traditional saying, and it fits as the subject. An and C use 'adage' as a verb, which it is not. D uses 'adage' to mean 'moral', which is incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “adage”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.