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

Marco Jansen hit six fours for a 20-ball 26, before holing out off Hazlewood. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026

In-line fours got bigger, went a hell of a lot faster, and schooled several generations of riders in sheer terror, while simultaneously addicting them to industrial doses of adrenaline. — New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026

There’s a teeny, tiny kids club that’s probably only fun for the under-fours and even then, rather limited. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

American consumers who couldn’t afford to buy a home when rates were in the fours will be hard-pressed to buy in the sevens today. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 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