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

More than 50 acts will play on fours stages across three days including headliners the Strokes, Twenty One Pilots and Gorillaz. — AJC.com, 17 Sep. 2026

The hope is that Tobias Harris changes a lot of things by scoring with ease and holding up defensively against big fours. — Jared Weiss, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Samson hit four sixes and seven fours en route to his first half-century since this year's T20 World Cup final — where he was named player of the tournament. — ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

Jones has advanced to five straight state final fours as region champions, and won six of the last seven region titles. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026

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-four
• four-four time
• four-hand
• four-handed
• four-in-hand
• four-leaf clover
• four-letter
• four-letter word
• four-o'clock
• four of a kind
• four-on-the-floor
• four-peat
• four-poster
• four square
• four-star
• four-to-the-floor
• 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