twenty

noun

twen·​ty ˈtwen-tē  ˈtwən- 

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

ˈtwen-tē-əth 

ˈtwən-

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

Hired at just 19 without even a driver’s license, Paula became a fixture in the company, left briefly in her twenties, and returned when she was needed most. —Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025

All three boys, in their late teens or early twenties, were arrested at a Manhattan immigration courthouse. —Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2025

These are young men in their late teens and early twenties, from neighborhoods like the one Miguel grew up in. —Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025

She was born with a condition causing low vision, which significantly worsened in her twenties after surgery to fix the issue failed. —Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025

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

Phrases Containing twenty

• twenty-four hours a day
• twenty-fourmo
• twenty-four seven
• twenty-one
• twenty-twenty
• twenty-twenty hindsight
• twenty-twenty vision
• twenty-two

Rhymes for twenty

• mentee
• plenty
• senti
• aplenty

Kids Definition

twenty

noun

twen·​ty ˈtwent-ē 

plural twenties

: a number equal to two times 10 see number

twenty adjective or pronoun