plural twenties
Synonyms of twentynext
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.
The proportion of adults in their twenties and thirties living at home has continued to rise in recent years, and shows no sign of letting up. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026 There’s Peter Green (Firstman), a scruffy, dark-haired man in his twenties; his flinty-eyed business partner, Sophie (Cara Delevingne); and several other friends, all of them pumped to drink, dance, and do ketamine bumps into the wee hours. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026 The woman was in her twenties at the time of the alleged incident. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026 On the other stood young, financially vulnerable women in their early twenties. — CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 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

Cite this Entry

“Twenty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twenty. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

Kids Definition

plural twenties
: a number equal to two times 10 see number
twenty adjective or pronoun

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