old soul

American

[ohld sohl] / ˈoʊld ˈsoʊl /

noun

a person, especially a child or young person, who demonstrates a maturity, understanding, or seriousness that is typical of someone much older.

Our daughter was always so thoughtful and solemn, even as a baby—everyone says she’s an old soul.

Etymology

Origin of old soul

First recorded in 1750–60; in reference to an old person

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I was struck by how well the film holds up. And it’s not just because I made it. It still has a rhythm and a muscle. It hasn’t aged badly at all. On the contrary, it’s like a young old soul,” he says with a laugh.

From Los Angeles Times

“I feel like being an old soul gives people a sense of how things used to be back in the day,” he says of the intergenerational bridge between his work and personal interests.

From Los Angeles Times

“I think that just means I have an old soul, and I like everything,” Neilson said.

From The Wall Street Journal

His family called him “an old soul” because of how often he acted older than his age.

From Los Angeles Times

Reinhart related to Harper because as a kid, she was an “old soul” who had “a melancholy air” and found it difficult to fit socially.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023