three

noun

ˈthrē 

1

: a number that is one more than 2 see Table of Numbers

2

: the third in a set or series

the three of hearts

3

a

: something having three units or members

b

: three-pointer

three adjective

three pronoun, plural in construction

Examples of three in a Sentence

“What time is it?” “It's three.”

I leave each day at three.

Recent Examples on the Web

All three can be addressed for under $50, and adjusting your thermostat to the 60-67°F range that sleep medicine physicians recommend costs nothing at all. —Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026

Hachimura had 16 points in the first half, continuing his hot three-point shooting by making all four of his threes. —Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026

Scoring in the paint, and then the threes start falling after that. —Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 10 May 2026

Chen, who entered training camp this spring on a non-guaranteed contract with her roster spot in question, hit 5-of-10 shots and buried a pair of threes, helping ignite a third-quarter takeover from the Valkyries in which the road team won the period 20-12. —Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 9 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from three, adjective, from Old English thrīe (masculine), thrēo (feminine & neuter); akin to Old High German drī three, Latin tres, Greek treis

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing three

• best (out) of three/five/seven
• the three R's
• thirty-three
• three-bagger
• three-ball
• three-card monte
• three cheers for
• three-color
• three-cornered
• three-decker
• three-dimensional
• three-gaited
• three-handed
• three-legged
• three-legged race
• three-mile limit
• three of a kind
• three-peat
• three-phase
• three-piece
• three-piece suit
• three-piece suite
• three-ply
• three-pointer
• three-point landing
• three-point line
• three-point turn
• three-quarter
• three-quarter-bound
• three-quarters
• three-ring circus
• three R's
• three sheets in the wind
• three sheets to the wind
• three sisters
• three-spined stickleback
• three-toed sloth
• three-way
• three-wheeler
• two's company, three's a crowd

Rhymes for three

• be
• bee
• bree
• cree
• fee
• flea
• flee
• free
• gee
• ghee
• glee
• he

Kids Definition

three

noun

ˈthrē 

1

: a number that is one more than 2 see number

2

: the third in a set or series

the three of hearts

3

a

: something having three units or members

b

: three-pointer

three adjective or pronoun