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 At eight days off work a year, those in their early twenties are taking off almost as much time as workers in their early 50s did before the pandemic. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2023 Baby made a name for herself in ballroom starting to walk runway in her early twenties after being signed to Wilhelmina at the age of 16. Mikelle Street, Essence, 14 Nov. 2023 At the same time, there’s a journalist investigating a cold missing person case for a podcast while a man in his twenties is carrying out an illicit relationship between not just one but two underage girls. K.j. Yossman, Variety, 7 Nov. 2023 In Scotland specifically, the number of new apprentices in their late twenties has doubled since 2019. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2023 Most people who develop ALS are between the ages of 40 and 70, with an average age of 55 at the time of diagnosis, but there are cases of ALS in people in their twenties and thirties. Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 27 Oct. 2023 There is no city more beautiful and richer with personal history to me than this one—where my parents grew up, fell in love, and left in their twenties for America. Krista Stevens, Longreads, 20 Sep. 2023 Calling off her wedding, quitting her job, and chasing her passion around the globe, CALL YOU WHEN I LAND follows Nikki’s coming-of-age story and the ups and downs that define a young woman navigating her twenties. Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 29 Sep. 2023 Her early albums were about transitioning into adulthood, finding her way through the uncertainty of her early twenties to realize her purpose. The New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'twenty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 6 Dec. 2023.

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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