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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His second came on a 24-yard run with the Trojans facing a fourth-and-1. Cody Thorn, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2025 Giancarlo Stanton had hit a solo shot in the second inning, and Wells had contributed a two-run blast in the fourth. Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025 The hosts padded their lead in the fourth. Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025 But, in a bizarre twist, the first order of business at the meeting that day changed the policy, and a simple majority — instead of three-fourths — was all that was needed to pass measures like the one Coan was about to be tried on. Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fourth

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

Cite this Entry

“Fourth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fourth. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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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