triple

1 of 3

verb

tri·​ple ˈtri-pəl 

tripled; tripling 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

triple

2 of 3

noun

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 sense 2

tripple

3 of 3

intransitive verb

"

variants or triple

"

-ed/-ing/-s

chiefly southern Africa

: to go at a tripple

Synonyms of triple

Noun

• trio
• triad
• trinity

Examples of triple in a Sentence

Verb

He tripled his winnings at the track.

The town's population has tripled in size.

He tripled to right field.

Noun

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That account received nearly 29,000 likes and reposts on average, tripling that of the average White House post, which comes in second, Pew reports. —Drew Pittock, USA Today, 4 June 2026

Stowers tripled in the ninth inning to score Lopez, who singled off Gus Varland to start the inning. —Miami Herald, 4 June 2026

Noun

Mater Dei’s Danica Lancelloti, who went 3 for 4 with two triples, led off the inning with a triple but came in to score on the play when interference was called on the Heralds third baseman. —Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 30 May 2026

First baseman Rafael Devers reached base three times with two hits and a walk, driving in a run in the top of the ninth with his first triple since July 28, 2024. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 30 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

Middle English, from Latin triplus, adjective

Intransitive verb

Afrikaans trippel, from Dutch trippelen, to trip along, amble; akin to Low German trippeln to stamp, trample

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing triple

• triple-A
• triple-A battery
• triple bogey
• triple bond
• triple counterpoint
• triple crown
• triple-decker
• triple-double
• triple E
• triple-header
• triple jump
• triple play
• triple point
• triple sec
• triple-space
• triple-team
• triple threat
• triple-tongue

Rhymes for triple

• cripple
• nipple
• ripple
• stipple
• tipple
• participle

Kids Definition

triple

1 of 3 verb

tri·​ple ˈtrip-əl 

tripled; tripling ˈtrip-(ə-)liŋ 

1

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

their profits tripled last year

2

: to make a triple in baseball

triple

2 of 3 noun

1

a

: a triple sum, quantity, or number

b

: a combination, group, or series of three

2

: a hit in baseball that permits a batter to reach third base safely

triple

3 of 3 adjective

1

: being three times as great or as many

2

: having three units or parts

3

a

: three times repeated

b

: having three full revolutions

a triple somersault