triple

1 of 5

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 5

noun (1)

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

triple

3 of 5

adjective

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)

tripple

4 of 5

noun (2)

trip·​ple

ˈtripəl

plural -s

chiefly southern Africa

: a gait in which the horse moves both near and both off legs alternately and which somewhat resembles the amble

tripple

5 of 5

intransitive verb

"

variants or triple

"

-ed/-ing/-s

chiefly southern Africa

: to go at a tripple

Synonyms of triple

Noun (1)

• trio
• triad
• trinity

Adjective

• treble
• threefold

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 (1)

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

Adjective

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

He ordered a triple espresso.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Making his first start since giving up a career high-tying eight runs on June 4 before he was sent to triple A for nearly a month, Bello (6-7) worked around a high pitch count to keep the Angels (54-90) to four hits with seven strikeouts. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Those contracts with the state increased exponentially since Alligator Alcatraz’s closure in June — nearly tripling in total and now amounting to $313 million. — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026

Noun

In the ninth inning, Ozzie Albies legged out a double off Phillies closer Jhoan Duran (2-5) and Riley followed with a triple off the centerfield fence, giving the Braves the lead. — Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026

Jose Altuve hit a two-run homer and Daulton Varsho drove in two runs with a triple to lead the Houston Astros to a 6-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Wednesday is no different, with crude prices marching back towards triple digits and inflation sirens ringing from Beijing to London to Washington. — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026

Statcast recorded him throwing 42 at 100 or greater in Tuesday’s 4-3 win versus the Chicago Cubs in Milwaukee, giving him 1,010 triple-digit specials this season. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Latin triplus, adjective

Adjective

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

Noun (2)

Afrikaans trippel, from trippel to tripple

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 (1)

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

Adjective

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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