five

noun

ˈfīv 

plural fives

1

: a number that is one more than four see Table of Numbers

2

fives plural : a British handball game

3

: the fifth in a set or series

the five of clubs

4

: something having five units or members

especially : a basketball team

5

: a 5-dollar bill

6

: fifteen sense 2

7

: a gesture in which two people slap each other's extended hands (as in greeting or celebration)

—usually used in phrases with give or slap

So I slapped him five and hugged him.

—J. R. Burke

five adjective

five pronoun, plural in construction

see also high five, take five

Examples of five in a Sentence

I get off work at five.

The store is open until five.

Recent Examples on the Web

Viral video of the incident shows Eilish leaving the stage and exchanging high-fives with fans when someone grabs her arm and tires to yank her into the crowd. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025

In the video obtained by USA TODAY, Billie walks on the side of the main stage, singing and giving high-fives to fans, who are standing in a crowd behind a barricade. —Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025

At five-on-five, Hughes made huge strides as a needle-mover, setting up shots and scoring chances for his teammates at a high level. —The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025

He high-fives Baby Shark, who enters from his left. —Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from five, adjective, from Old English fīf; akin to Old High German finf five, Latin quinque, Greek pente

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing five

• best (out) of three/five/seven
• five-and-dime
• five-and-ten
• five-card stud
• five-finger
• five-hole
• five-o'clock shadow
• five of a kind
• five-spice powder
• five-star
• forty-five
• high five
• hit the big five-oh
• nine-to-five job
• take five

Rhymes for five

• dive
• drive
• hive
• jive
• live
• strive
• thrive
• alive
• archive
• arrive
• beehive
• connive

Kids Definition

five

noun

ˈfīv 

1

: a number that is one more than four see number

2

: the fifth in a set or series

3

: something having five units or members

especially : a basketball team

4

: a 5-dollar bill

5

: a slapping of extended hands by two people (as in greeting or celebration)

I slapped him five after he scored

five adjective or pronoun