Meanings
- idiomaticnot comparableEspecially memorable and noteworthy; deserving to endure for a very long time.
It wasn't a speech for the ages. It was barely a speech for the evening.
1968 January 23, James J. Kilpatrick, “A Speech For The Evening”, in Evening Independent, retrieved 12 Sep 20135 more examples
The comparison may seem unfair to Churchill now that he is a man for the ages by reason of his glorious bravado when the world, including Hitler, knew that his heart was heavy with dread.
1953 October 28, Westbrook Pegler, “Fair Enough”, in Palm Beach Post, retrieved 12 Sep 2013Centenarian George Abbott's revival with attitude makes a '50s baseball musical one for the ages.
1994 March 14, William A. Henry III, “Theater: Damn Yankees Is Back At Bat”, in Time, retrieved 12 Sep 2013[T]his year’s Fashion Week is turning out to be a weeklong party for the ages, with so many events, hardly anyone can keep them straight.
2013 September 6, Jacob Bernstein, “No Sleep for the Wicked”, in New York Times, retrieved 12 Sep 2013It was a clash for the ages as the battling All Blacks were full value for their effort. They can hold their heads high after it looked like South Africa was in control halfway through the match.
2023 October 28, Leighton Koopman, “YES!!! The Springboks beat the All Blacks to win another Rugby World Cup title”, in Independent OnlineEvery guest is appalled and fantastically humourless about the experience, even at this distance. You cannot help but wonder at cultural divides and how differently the British might have approached – or at least recalled – such events, at least in the early days. For us, surely, it would be a story for the ages. You could dine out on it for ever, so to speak.
2026 June 24, Lucy Mangan, “Poop Cruise review – a fascinating look at a toilet disaster that still haunts passengers 12 years later”, in The Guardian
- idiomaticnot comparableIn a manner that produces long-lasting effects; for posterity; for a very long duration.
Little did Mr. Quiney think, when he wrote that letter, that he was writing for the ages.
1916, Elbert Hubbard, “William Shakespeare”, in Little Journeys Vol. 1: Good Men and Great3 more examples
Some men build hastily and quickly so that their work serves only its transient purpose, and is soon forgotten. Others build for the ages.
1947 Feb. 28, "Quality Endures" (advertisement), Ellensburg Daily Record, p. 3 (retrieved 12 Sept 2013)President Franklin Roosevelt loved Camp Pendleton, and decreed that the old ranch house . . . should be preserved for the ages.
1968 March 12, John Chamberain, “The People's General Risks His Stars”, in Evening Independent, retrieved 12 Sep 2013Day-Lewis lets us see how the war and the presidency have aged Lincoln while teaching him to think for the ages.
2012 November 8, Ty Burr, “Movie Review: ‘Lincoln’ carries the weight of history”, in Boston Globe, retrieved 12 Sep 2013
Translations
Spanish para recordar, para la historia
- para recordarespecially memorable and noteworthy; deserving to endure for a very long time
- para la historiaespecially memorable and noteworthy; deserving to endure for a very long time
- para las edadesespecially memorable and noteworthy; deserving to endure for a very long time
Cite this entry
for the ages. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/for%20the%20ages
“for the ages.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/for%20the%20ages. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “for the ages,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/for%20the%20ages.
Source: for the ages on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.