four

noun

ˈfȯr 

1

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

2

: the fourth in a set or series

the four of hearts

3

: something having four units or members: such as

a

: a 4-oared racing shell or its crew

b

: a 4-cylinder engine or automobile

four adjective

four pronoun, plural in construction

Examples of four in a Sentence

“What time is it?” “It's four.”

I leave each day at four.

Recent Examples on the Web

At 6-foot-11 and 213 pounds, he’s caught in no man’s land—too skinny to bang in the paint like a true center, and not quite quick enough to hang with athletic fours just yet. —Brian Sampson, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

Kylie Kelce is ready for baby number four’s arrival! —Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025

At the Senate’s usual plodding pace, passing a single spending bill takes a week, at best — let alone the four that must pass by next Friday to prevent a partial shutdown. —Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2024

The Cavs, based on their net rating, maybe should be closer to the East’s top-four instead of step back. —Chris Manning, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from four adjective, from Old English fēower; akin to Old High German fior four, Latin quattuor, Greek tessares, tettares

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing four

• four-bagger
• four-ball
• four-by-four
• four-dimensional
• four-eyed
• four flush
• four-footed
• four-hand
• four-handed
• four-in-hand
• four-leaf clover
• four-letter
• four-letter word
• four-o'clock
• four of a kind
• four-peat
• four-poster
• four square
• four-star
• four-way
• four-wheel
• four-wheel drive
• four-wheeled
• four-wheeler
• four-wing saltbush
• from the four corners of the earth
• hit the big four-oh
• petit four
• these four walls
• twenty-four hours a day
• twenty-four seven
• two-by-four

Rhymes for four

• boar
• boer
• bore
• chore
• cor
• core
• corps
• crore
• door
• drawer
• floor
• flor

Kids Definition

four

noun

ˈfō(ə)r 

ˈfȯ(ə)r

1

: a number that is one more than three see number

2

: the fourth in a set or series

3

: something having four units or members

four adjective or pronoun