third

adjective \ ˈthərd \

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Examples: third in a Sentence

Definition of third

1 a : being next after the second in place or time

the third taxi in line

b : ranking next after the second of a grade or degree in authority or precedence

served as third mate

c : being the forward speed or gear next higher than second especially in a motor vehicle

2 a : being one of three equal parts into which something is divisible

a third share of the money

b : being the last in each group of three in a series

take out every third card

—

third

or thirdly adverb

See third defined for English-language learners

See third defined for kids

Examples of third in a Sentence

We sat in the third row.
the third house on the left
C is the third letter in the alphabet.
That's the third time I've seen him today.
The office is on the third floor.
Do you have a third choice?
a third share in the profits
a third pound of cheese

Recent Examples of third from the Web

Mora was fired a day after the team’s loss to rival USC, the Bruins’ third consecutive loss in the series.

— matt murschel, OrlandoSentinel.com, "New coach Chip Kelly’s UCLA Bruins are No. 45 in 2018 preseason college football rankings," 13 July 2018
Overall, seven of the players participating are in the N.L. The lone American League contestant is Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, who is the No. 4 seed.

— noel harris, sacbee, "Rhys Hoskins is in the Home Run Derby. Why he wanted a different All-Star celebration," 11 July 2018
According to Daniela Virgona, a 47-year-old third-generation farmer in Salina, the product is so difficult to grow that only the most dedicated stewards are willing to do it.

— howie kahn, Smithsonian, "These Volcanic, Italian Islands Have Been Beloved by Travelers Since Homeric Times," 11 July 2018
Read More Severe nausea, 5 hospital stays: Why Ayesha Curry's third pregnancy is her roughest.

— cassie cope, charlotteobserver, "Stephen and Ayesha Curry share photos of their new baby. It's a ...," 4 July 2018
López Obrador's supporters attributed his win to the longevity and personal charisma of a candidate who is running in his third consecutive election and has campaigned in every municipality in the country.

— joshua partlow, Anchorage Daily News, "Andrés Manuel López Obrador wins Mexican presidential race," 2 July 2018
Kirk returned this past season and played a full 52 games with the Steelers, at times against players more than twice his age, and recorded 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) – the third-highest point total in league history by a teenager.

— richard morin, azcentral, "Arizona Coyotes' British-born Liam Kirk followed a different path en route to making history," 29 June 2018
The first Purge begins as an experiment of an NRA-approved, Trumpian third-party presidency to bring the crime rate down to 1% and focuses on a marginalized community on Staten Island that fights back against its oppressors.

— brian truitt, USA TODAY, "Your ultimate Fourth of July movie guide: A suggestion for every holiday scenario," 29 June 2018
Concierge is Lyft’s third-party web request platform which enables partners to request Lyft rides on behalf of their customers.

— shelia poole, ajc, "Lyft to provide rides to Atlanta area resident who are fighting cancer," 20 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'third.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of third

Middle English thridde, thirde, from Old English thridda, thirdda; akin to Latin tertius third, Greek tritos, treis three — more at three

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

third

noun

Definition of third

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

b : one that is next after second in rank, position, authority, or precedence

the third in line

2 : one of three equal parts of something

a third of the pie

3 : third base

4 : the third forward gear or speed especially of a motor vehicle

5 a : the musical interval embracing three diatonic degrees

b : a tone at this interval; specifically : mediant

c : the harmonic combination of two tones a third apart

6 thirds plural : merchandise whose quality falls below the manufacturer's standard for seconds

See third defined for English-language learners

Examples of third in a Sentence

The win was his third of the year.
a third of the pie
Rent costs two-thirds of my paycheck.
She divided the cookie into thirds.

Recent Examples of third from the Web

The trip was Pompeo's third to Pyongyang since April and his first since the summit.

— andrew harnik and matthew lee, chicagotribune.com, "North Korea says talks with Secretary of State Pompeo were 'regrettable' and 'robber-like'," 7 July 2018
The trip was Pompeo’s third to Pyongyang since April and his first since the summit.

— andrew harnik and matthew lee, BostonGlobe.com, "North Korea says talks with Pompeo were ‘regrettable’," 7 July 2018
The Seals also received New England's last third-round selection (33rd overall) in the 2018 draft.

— courant.com, "Regional Digest: Black Wolves Trade Kyle Buchanan To San Diego," 2 July 2018
Fellow tryout player Zach Solow is from Naples, and Panthers 2018 third-round pick Logan Hustko is from Tampa.

— jordan mcpherson, miamiherald, "His hockey career began in South Florida. This week, he skated with the Panthers' top prospects," 29 June 2018
Where Green had previously batted him directly in front of Hosmer, the perpetual lineup mixer had Hosmer third and Myers fourth on Tuesday.

— kevin acee, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Padres come back in rare style to beat Rangers," 26 June 2018
But the Centurions have eliminated the Colts from the playoffs each of the past two years, including a 24-3 third-round victory last year.

— louisville courier journal, The Courier-Journal, "The four biggest high school football rivalries in Louisville," 19 June 2018
On the men's podium, David Magida was second and Lefty Kapanadze third.

— baltimoresun.com, "Digest: Carrasco places fifth, fourth at Laurel Park in return to racing," 18 June 2018
Largemouth bass – slow, but coves in the southern third of the reservoir have decent populations of bass and McIntyre Cove tends to produce the best.

— tyler mahoney special to the star, kansascity, "Fishing report: Nineteen-pound channel cat caught at Wyandotte," 6 June 2018

First Known Use of third

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

THIRD Defined for English Language Learners

third

adjective

Definition of third for English Language Learners

: occupying the number three position in a series
: next to the second in importance or rank
: equal in size, value, amount, etc., to one third of something

third

noun

Definition of third for English Language Learners

: something that is third : the third thing in a series
: one of three equal parts of something
: the third forward gear or speed of a vehicle

THIRD Defined for Kids

third

adjective \ ˈthərd \

Definition of third for Students

: coming right after second

third

noun

Definition of third for Students

1 : number three in a series

2 : one of three equal parts

Learn More about third

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

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third

Examples of third in a Sentence

Recent Examples of third from the Web

Origin and Etymology of third

third

Definition of third

Examples of third in a Sentence

Recent Examples of third from the Web

First Known Use of third

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THIRD Defined for English Language Learners

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