fourth

noun \ ˈfȯrth \

|Updated on: 7 Aug 2018

Examples: fourth in a Sentence

Definition of fourth

plural fourths play \ˈfȯr(th)s\

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

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

b : a tone at this interval; specifically : subdominant 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

—

fourth

adjective or adverb

—

fourthly

adverb

See fourth defined for English-language learners

See fourth defined for kids

Examples of fourth in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of fourth from the Web

Medicare buy-ins poll the highest, with the support of three-fourths of Americans, including 6 out of 10 Republicans.

— dylan scott, Vox, "The “pleasant ambiguity” of Medicare-for-all in 2018, explained," 2 July 2018
Republican Congressman Ron DeSantis has raised nearly one fourth of all his contributions from five individual millionaires, the records show.

— mary ellen klas and emily mahoney, miamiherald, "Ukrainian oligarch, generous dads and billionaires write big checks in governor's race," 21 June 2018
Most of the funding - as much as three-fourths of the total sticker price - will come from the Superdome and the Saints.

— jeff duncan, NOLA.com, "Landing 2024 Super Bowl is first step in a series of big ones for New Orleans sports," 26 May 2018
Any change would require an amendment to the Constitution, which would require a two-thirds super-majority vote in both chambers, then ratification from three-fourths of the states.

— joseph weber, Fox News, "Trump backs bipartisan House push for congressional term limits," 7 May 2018
Top each pile of beans with one fourth of the marinated farro.

— San Antonio Express-News, "Recipe: Il Forno’s Green Bean Salad," 18 Apr. 2018
But in recent years, Trade-Tech has improved the educational outcomes for many of its 12,700 students, three-fourths of whom are the first in their families to attend college.

— rosanna xia, latimes.com, "L.A. Trade-Tech administrators received $157,000 for work they failed to justify, investigation finds," 8 July 2018
By Kelsey Grey The Jalil family makes up a third of the stabbing victims from the Saturday night attack at the apartment complex just off State Street, three-fourths of a mile northwest of the elementary school.

— maria l. la ganga, idahostatesman, "She's 6, 'a bright, happy little girl.' Stabbed in Boise. Her brother and mother too.," 2 July 2018
Personality-plus: Saturday’s appearance in the Overton’s 300 was Harvick’s fourth in an Xfinity race this season.

— tony baranek, Daily Southtown, "Kyle Larson rides the wall to win NASCAR Xfinity Overton's 300 at Chicagoland Speedway," 1 July 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.

Origin and Etymology of fourth

see four

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Number-Related Terms

jubilee, myriad, quarantine, score, twain

FOURTH Defined for English Language Learners

fourth

noun

Definition of fourth for English Language Learners

: number four in a series
: one of four equal parts of something
: the fourth forward gear or speed of a car, truck, etc.

FOURTH Defined for Kids

fourth

adjective \ ˈfȯrth \

Definition of fourth for Students

: coming right after third

fourth

noun

Definition of fourth for Students

1 : number four in a series

2 : one of four equal parts

Learn More about fourth

See words that rhyme with fourth Spanish Central: Translation of fourth Nglish: Translation of fourth for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of fourth for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fourth

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fourth

Definition of fourth

fourth

fourthly

Examples of fourth in a Sentence

Recent Examples of fourth from the Web

Origin and Etymology of fourth

Other Number-Related Terms

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FOURTH Defined for English Language Learners

fourth

Definition of fourth for English Language Learners

FOURTH Defined for Kids

fourth

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fourth

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