twenty

noun

twen·​ty ˈtwen-tē How to pronounce twenty (audio) ˈtwən- How to pronounce twenty (audio)
plural twenties
1
: a number equal to two times 10 see Table of Numbers
2
twenties plural : the numbers 20 to 29
specifically : the years 20 to 29 in a lifetime or century
3
: a 20-dollar bill
twentieth adjective or noun
twenty adjective
twenty pronoun, plural in construction

Examples of twenty in a Sentence

Tomorrow the temperature will be in the low twenties.
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.
By the fall of 1969, Bernard, then in his early twenties, was living in Jersey City, New Jersey. Sarah Weinman, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2024 This position, which typically goes to executives in their early twenties, can lead to careers in finance, in private equity, or nearly any other field. Luisa Beltran, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2024 Isabella Strahan and her twin sister Sophia are gracefully exiting their teens and entering their twenties. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 29 Oct. 2024 Some have questioned whether Todd, who would have been in his early twenties when the bitcoin white paper was published, would have been capable of developing a sophisticated peer-to-peer digital cash system—a problem that had confounded many talented and experienced cryptographers before him. Joel Khalili, WIRED, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for twenty 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from twenty, adjective, from Old English twēntig, noun, group of 20, from twēn- (akin to Old English twā two) + -tig group of 10; akin to Old English tīen ten — more at two, ten

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of twenty was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near twenty

Cite this Entry

“Twenty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twenty. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

twenty

noun
twen·​ty ˈtwent-ē How to pronounce twenty (audio)
plural twenties
: a number equal to two times 10 see number
twenty adjective or pronoun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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