fourth

noun

\ 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 2b) 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

By 2025, Bain predicts, half of Chinese luxury spending will take place inside China, up from less than one-fourth in 2015. — James B. Cutchin, latimes.com, "Busloads of Chinese tourists used to visit L.A. luxury stores. Not anymore," 30 June 2019 Under the programme, state exchequers are taking on three-fourths of the utilities’ debt. — Kuwar Singh, Quartz India, "Can smart meters re-energise India’s crumbling power distribution companies?," 18 June 2019 People commented on just how important these insects are for ecosystems and its inhabitants: For instance three-fourths of flowering plants and about a third of crops rely on pollinators like honeybees to reproduce. — Douglas Main, National Geographic, "We asked readers which species they’d save—here are the top responses," 30 May 2019 Relatively few gave the schools an above average or excellent rating: Three-fourths of those surveyed said middle and high schools in the city limits are average or worse. — Brittany Wallman, sun-sentinel.com, "Public schools get failing grades in new survey by Fort Lauderdale residents," 8 June 2019 As pharma companies underwrite three-fourths of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s budget for scientific reviews, the agency is increasingly fast-tracking expensive drugs with significant side effects and unproven health benefits. — Caroline Chen, Fox News, "FDA repays drug industry by rushing risky meds to market," 1 July 2018 Though given that three-fourths of Seattle’s defensive contributors are nearing the ends of their contracts, a long-term depth guy might have to be a short-term starter come 2019. — Andy Benoit, SI.com, "2018 NFL Draft Grades: Analysis of All 32 Teams," 28 Apr. 2018 And of the time devoted to covering the administration, one fourth of it, 24 percent of that airtime, was devoted to the Mueller probe. — Fox News, "Kellyanne Conway: Not sure media is relevant, consequential," 3 Aug. 2018 But today, three-fourths of our business is gemstones. — Sheila Marikar, Fortune, "This Startup Wants to Disrupt De Beers," 23 Mar. 2018

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.