fourth

noun

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\ ˈfȯrth

plural fourths\ ˈfȯr(th)s

Definition of fourth

1 : one that is number four in a series — see Table of Numbers

2a : a musical interval (see interval sense 2) embracing four tones of the diatonic scale

b : a tone at this interval specifically : subdominant sense 1

c : the harmonic combination of two tones a fourth apart

3 : the fourth forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle shifted into fourth

4 capitalized : independence day —used with the watched fireworks on the Fourth

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Examples of fourth in a Sentence

cut the cake into fourths She drank a fourth of the bottle.

Recent Examples on the Web On average, cities across Southern California that are supplied by the Metropolitan Water District typically get about one-fourth of their water from the Colorado River. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2022 The western fourth of the state is still abnormally dry, but no severe, extreme or exceptional drought conditions exist anywhere in the state. — From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 31 May 2022 His appearance against North Carolina was his fourth of the season. — Brett Dawson, The Courier-Journal, 2 Feb. 2022 The ponytail has a simple plait that wasn't braided all the way through, leaving the last fourth of the Kanekalon hair to sit freely at the end. — Gabi Thorne, Allure, 8 Oct. 2021 The group ranked from seventh to forty-fourth encompasses Stellantis (#9), BMW (#10), Volvo (#11), Honda (#13), and Ford (#14). — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2021 According to the World Economic Forum’s 2010 Global Gender Gap Report, Italy ranks seventy-fourth in women’s rights, between the Dominican Republic and Gambia. — Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2021 After some rancorous back-and-fourth, Kaval compromised with this figure: Zero percent, zero units. — Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 July 2021 Boley has been battling through a back injury and sat the entire fourth of last week’s loss against Arizona. — oregonlive, 15 Feb. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fourth.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.