fourth

noun

plural fourths ˈfȯr(th)s How to pronounce fourth (audio)
1
: one that is number four in a series
I was the fourth to arrive.
They arrive on the fourth. [=the fourth day of the month]
see Table of Numbers
2
: one of four equal parts of something : quarter entry 1
Cut the cake into fourths.
a fourth of the population
3
a
: 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
4
: the fourth forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle
shifted into fourth
5
the Fourth : July 4 observed as a legal holiday in the U.S. in commemoration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 : Fourth of July
watched fireworks on the Fourth

called also Independence Day

fourth adjective or adverb
the fourth edition of a book
the fourth tallest mountain
fourthly adverb
Fourthly, don't sing a whole opera through … Mark Twain

Examples of fourth in a Sentence

cut the cake into fourths She drank a fourth of the bottle.
Recent Examples on the Web George Gascón received less than a fourth of the vote on Tuesday night. David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Stanford shot 9 of 17 in the third quarter, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range, and led 50-43 going into the fourth. W.g. Ramirez, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Also note that the band is intended to provide light compression for support—a feature some people need in their third trimester and a lot want in their fourth. Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 4 Mar. 2024 Farrar, Straus and Giroux announced Thursday that the novel, the Irish author's fourth, will be published Sept. 24. Hillel Italie, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2024 Catcher Parker Stroh hit a solo home run over the right-field wall in the fourth. Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 11 Mar. 2024 Powell had eight of his 18 points in the fourth, his two threes giving the Clippers some breathing room. Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Miami ultimately won despite shooting 2 for 11 on threes in the fourth. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 Both teams took their main rotation players out late in the fourth, with the Lakers leading 116-93. Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fourth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see four

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of fourth was in 1594

Dictionary Entries Near fourth

Cite this Entry

“Fourth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fourth. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fourth

noun
ˈfō(ə)rth How to pronounce fourth (audio)
ˈfȯ(ə)rth
1
: one that is number four in a series see number
2
: the difference in pitch between the first tone and the fourth tone of a scale
fourth adjective or adverb
fourthly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on fourth

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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