triple

verb tri·ple \ ˈtri-pəl \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: triple in a Sentence

Definition of triple

tripled; tripling play \ˈtri-p(ə-)liŋ\

transitive verb

1 : to make three times as great or as many

2 a : to score (a base runner) by a triple

b : to bring about the scoring of (a run) by a triple

intransitive verb

1 : to become three times as great or as numerous

their profits tripled last year

2 : to make a triple in baseball

See triple defined for English-language learners

See triple defined for kids

Examples of triple in a Sentence

He tripled his winnings at the track.
The town's population has tripled in size.
He tripled to right field.

Recent Examples of triple from the Web

When Arizona introduced its bill, the state’s corrections department immediately tripled the number of pads per woman per month from 12 to 36 to head off proposals to provide unlimited hygiene products for free.

— asia london palomba, The Christian Science Monitor, "More lawmakers agree: feminine hygiene products should be free for prisoners," 13 June 2018
The rate of depression tripled in people taking at least three medications with a possible side effect, compared to people taking no drugs with that side effect.

— carolyn y. johnson, Anchorage Daily News, "More than a third of American adults take prescription drugs that may increase risk of depression, study says," 13 June 2018
The Antarctic ice sheet lost nearly 3 trillion metric tons of ice from 1992 to 2017, and its rate of loss over that time tripled in West Antarctica, according to an international collaboration involving about 80 scientists.

— amina khan, latimes.com, "Antarctica’s ice is shrinking at an unprecedented rate that could imperil coastal regions worldwide," 13 June 2018
Between 2013 and 2017, the number of streaming-only households in the U.S. tripled.

— michael d. smith and, WSJ, "Godspeed to AT&T-Time Warner," 12 June 2018
The rate of depression tripled in people taking at least three medications with a possible side effect, compared to people taking no drugs with that side effect.

— carolyn y. johnson, chicagotribune.com, "More than a third of American adults take prescription drugs that may increase risk of depression, study says," 12 June 2018
Mejias-Brean also tripled in two runs in the eighth inning.

— seattle times staff, The Seattle Times, "Tacoma edges Nashville 5-4 in 10 innings," 10 June 2018
JaCoby Jones tripled to the shallowest left field in baseball in the second inning, a combination of his speed and the lack thereof from former Tiger J.D. Martinez in right field.

— anthony fenech, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Tigers no match for Boston Red Sox, lose 7-1," 6 June 2018
The new building at the corner of Walnut and Illinois streets Downtown tripled the space of the previous location off Massachusetts Avenue and, as a result, has expanded its programming and educational outreach.

— domenica bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star, "A month after new Phoenix Theatre opens, longtime director Bryan Fonseca leaves his post," 1 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of triple

Middle English (Scots), from Late Latin triplare, from Latin triplus, adjective

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

triple

noun

Definition of triple

1 a : a triple sum, quantity, or number

b : a combination, group, or series of three

2 : a base hit that allows the batter to reach third base safely

3 : trifecta 2

See triple defined for English-language learners

Examples of triple in a Sentence

that triple of terrors for the wintertime driver: snow, ice, and sleet

Recent Examples of triple from the Web

Castellanos and Candelario hit back-to-back doubles and John Hicks singled before Reyes smacked a bases-clearing triple into the left-center field gap. … Rodriguez’s first hit was an infield single.

— anthony fenech, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Tigers get big boost from rookies in 6-2 win over Angels," 31 May 2018
Ozzie Albies of the Atlanta Braves dives safely into third base for a triple against the Chicago Cubs.

— jared diamond, WSJ, "The Front End of Baseball’s New Youth Movement," 31 May 2018
This is toughest task for Avon’s Isaac Guerendo in bid for triple in 100/200/long jump.

— david woods, Indianapolis Star, "Avon's Isaac Guerendo has chance to do something at state track meet that hasn't been done in 105 years," 31 May 2018
Will Swope, The Woodlands Swope turned in a four-RBI night on two triples in a 12-4 Game 2 win over Klein in the regional semifinals.

— adam coleman, Houston Chronicle, "Boys athlete of the week: Rhett McCaffety, Cy-Fair," 28 May 2018
The Red Devils drew within 3-2 in the sixth on Gaby Malave’s single and Hailey Boylan’s triple with no outs.

— michael osipoff, Post-Tribune, "Towle in tow: Junior slugger Jenna Towle's two-run double sparks Lake Central past Lowell in sectional," 23 May 2018
Williams' 64 triples were the most on Utah's roster.

— rachel roberts, idahostatesman, "Former Idaho girls basketball player of the year leaving Pac-12 school for Mountain West | Idaho Statesman," 23 May 2018
Lockport 4, Montini 3 Lockport (20-13): Ryan Moerman 2-run triple.

— Daily Southtown, "Daily Southtown Local Scoreboard for Sunday, May 20," 19 May 2018
One inning later, Clemens followed a Duke Ellis triple with a towering two-run shot over the right field fence to tie the game at 3-3.

— nick moyle, San Antonio Express-News, "Clemens’ game-winning homer lifts Texas over TCU," 18 May 2018

Origin and Etymology of triple

Middle English, from Latin triplus, adjective

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

triple Synonyms

Synonyms

threesome, triad, trinity, trio, triplet, triumvirate;

Related Words

Other Baseball Terms

alley, cleanup, nightcap, safety, save, shag

triple

adjective

Definition of triple

1 : being three times as great or as many

2 : having or involving three units or members

triple bypass heart surgery

3 : having a threefold relation or character

worked as a double or even triple agent
—Time

4 a : three times repeated : treble

b : having three full revolutions

a triple somersault

a triple lutz

5 : marked by three beats per musical measure

triple meter

6 a : having units of three components

triple feet

b of rhyme : involving correspondence of three syllables (as in unfortunate-importunate)

See triple defined for English-language learners

Examples of triple in a Sentence

She got a new job with triple the salary of her old one.
He ordered a triple espresso.

Recent Examples of triple from the Web

Also for Hingham, Matt Hatfield added three hits, Luke Papich had a double and a triple, and pitcher Jack Clougherty picked up his sixth win.

— karl capen, BostonGlobe.com, "Minus the usual flock of scouts, Mike Vasil leads BC High to victory," 30 May 2018
And the final standoff in Dryden Vos’ office, with its nested series of shifting allegiances and double-and-triple-crosses, is a blast.

— scott meslow, GQ, "Solo: A Star Wars Story," 25 May 2018
Luke Gomes 3-for-3, triple, run, 2 RBIs. SECTIONAL SEMIFINALS CLASS 1A HARVEST CHRISTIAN Aurora Christian 11, Elgin Academy 3 Aurora Christian (29-2): Jake Kuntzendorf 3-for-3, 2 doubles, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

— Aurora Beacon-News, "West Suburban Local Scoreboard for Friday, May 25," 24 May 2018
Senior Sara Mavity also went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and three RBIs for the Mustangs.

— michael osipoff, Post-Tribune, "Towle in tow: Junior slugger Jenna Towle's two-run double sparks Lake Central past Lowell in sectional," 23 May 2018
Travel times during these peak hours could double and even triple in places like New York, the release said.

— melinda morris, NOLA.com, "Roaches, goats and hedgehogs: American Airlines tightens emotional support policy," 15 May 2018
Nichting, a ninth-round draft pick out of Charlotte last summer, is batting .372 over his past 10 games to raise his season line to .321/.357/.420 with eight doubles, a triple and a home run in 33 games.

— jon meoli, baltimoresun.com, "Orioles minor league report: Baysox third baseman Ryan Mountcastle returns from injury," 13 May 2018
Two days later, Holloway went 3-for-4 at the plate with a single, a triple and a home run, while also striking out nine batters in four innings to earn the win on the mound in the Cougars’ 15-5 win at Charlotte Country Day.

— langston wertz jr. and jay edwards, charlotteobserver, "How an Independence High baseball player overcame three broken wrists to become a star | Charlotte Observer," 11 May 2018
At the plate, Jimmy Jaecksch had a two RBIs and a triple, while Gabe Zuiderhof had two hits drove in three runs.

— tim schwartz, Howard County Times, "Howard County varsity roundup, May 2," 3 May 2018

Origin and Etymology of triple

Middle English, from Latin triplus, from tri- + -plus multiplied by — more at -fold

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

triple Synonyms

Synonyms

threefold, treble, triadic, tripartite, triplex;

Related Words

triplicate;

Other Number-Related Terms

jubilee, myriad, quarantine, score, twain

TRIPLE Defined for English Language Learners

triple

verb

Definition of triple for English Language Learners

: to cause (something) to become three times as great or as many
: to become three times as great or as many
baseball : to hit a triple : to hit the ball so that you can reach third base

triple

noun

Definition of triple for English Language Learners

baseball : a hit that allows the batter to reach third base

triple

adjective

Definition of triple for English Language Learners

: three times bigger in size or amount
: having three parts or including three people or things

TRIPLE Defined for Kids

triple

verb tri·ple \ ˈtri-pəl \

Definition of triple for Students

tripled; tripling

: to make or become three times as great or as many

I tripled my savings.

triple

noun

Definition of triple for Students

1 : a sum, amount, or number that is three times as great

2 : a combination, group, or series of three

3 : a hit in baseball that lets the batter reach third base

triple

adjective

Definition of triple for Students

1 : having three units or parts

2 : being three times as great or as many

3 : repeated three times

Learn More about triple

See words that rhyme with triple Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for triple Spanish Central: Translation of triple Nglish: Translation of triple for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of triple for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about triple

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triple

Definition of triple

Examples of triple in a Sentence

Recent Examples of triple from the Web

Origin and Etymology of triple

triple

Definition of triple

Examples of triple in a Sentence

Recent Examples of triple from the Web

Origin and Etymology of triple

triple Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Baseball Terms

triple

Definition of triple

Examples of triple in a Sentence

Recent Examples of triple from the Web

Origin and Etymology of triple

triple Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Number-Related Terms

TRIPLE Defined for English Language Learners

triple

Definition of triple for English Language Learners

triple

Definition of triple for English Language Learners

triple

Definition of triple for English Language Learners

TRIPLE Defined for Kids

triple

Definition of triple for Students

triple

Definition of triple for Students

triple

Definition of triple for Students

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