five

noun

ˈfīv 

plural fives

1

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

2

fives plural : a British handball game

3

: the fifth in a set or series

the five of clubs

4

: something having five units or members

especially : a basketball team

5

: a 5-dollar bill

6

: fifteen sense 2

7

: a gesture in which two people slap each other's extended hands (as in greeting or celebration)

—usually used in phrases with give or slap

So I slapped him five and hugged him.

—J. R. Burke

five adjective

five pronoun, plural in construction

see also high five, take five

Examples of five in a Sentence

I get off work at five.

The store is open until five.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Sabres had a 16-10 advantage in scoring chances with him on the ice at five-on-five. —Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025

The team has managed to do that at five-on-five, which has helped compensate for a somewhat underwhelming power play. —Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025

Randle has started playing five-on-five, meaning his return from an injury that has kept him out for nine games is imminent. —Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025

At five-on-five, Emberson is getting caved by elites but performing well against the mid-level and soft parade opposition. —Allan Mitchell, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from five, adjective, from Old English fīf; akin to Old High German finf five, Latin quinque, Greek pente

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing five

• best (out) of three/five/seven
• five-and-dime
• five-and-ten
• five-card stud
• five-finger
• five-hole
• five-o'clock shadow
• five of a kind
• five-spice powder
• five-star
• forty-five
• high five
• hit the big five-oh
• nine-to-five job
• take five

Rhymes for five

• dive
• drive
• hive
• jive
• live
• strive
• thrive
• alive
• archive
• arrive
• beehive
• connive

Kids Definition

five

noun

ˈfīv 

1

: a number that is one more than four see number

2

: the fifth in a set or series

3

: something having five units or members

especially : a basketball team

4

: a 5-dollar bill

5

: a slapping of extended hands by two people (as in greeting or celebration)

I slapped him five after he scored

five adjective or pronoun