quarterfinal

1 of 2

noun

quar·​ter·​fi·​nal ˌkwȯ(r)-tər-ˈfī-nᵊl 

1

quarterfinals plural : a quarterfinal round

2

: a quarterfinal match

quarterfinalist

ˌkwȯ(r)-tər-ˈfī-nᵊl-ist 

noun

quarterfinal

2 of 2

adjective

1

: immediately preceding the semifinal in an elimination tournament

2

: of or participating in a quarterfinal

Examples of quarterfinal in a Sentence

Noun

He lost in the quarterfinal.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

During Tuesday's quarterfinal between Aryna Sabalenka and Iva Jovic - the last match played under scorching sun - the players held ice packs to their heads and portable fans to their faces during breaks in play. —CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026

Elina Svitolina played a near-perfect match in her 6-1, 6-2 win over Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. —Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

Adjective

Up against one of the game’s best servers, the 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, Świątek’s lack of a release valve in tight moments and access to free points in more neutral ones led to a 7-5, 6-1 quarterfinal defeat. —Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026

Clearly frustrated by her level during the quarterfinal, Gauff was filmed smashing her racket against a concrete ramp after making her way off the court at Rod Laver Arena. —Ben Church, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1916, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for quarterfinal

• anticlinal
• entorhinal
• isoclinal
• polyvinyl
• transvaginal
• affinal
• anginal
• synclinal
• vaginal
• final
• pinal
• spinal