fourth

noun

ˈfȯrth 

plural fourths ˈfȯr(th)s 

1

: one that is number four in a series see Table of Numbers

2

a

: a musical interval (see interval sense 2) embracing four tones of the diatonic scale

b

: a tone at this interval

specifically : subdominant sense 1

c

: the harmonic combination of two tones a fourth apart

3

: the fourth forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle

shifted into fourth

4

capitalized : independence day

—used with the

watched fireworks on the Fourth

fourth adjective or adverb

fourthly adverb

Example Sentences

cut the cake into fourths

She drank a fourth of the bottle.

Recent Examples on the Web

Ice accumulations of up to one-fourth of an inch and sleet accumulations up to one-tenth of an inch are possible Wednesday in North Texas, including in Dallas, Denton, Tarrant and Collin counties. —Dallas News, 23 Feb. 2022

DeJulius opened the second half with another 3-pointer, his fourth of the night. —Keith Jenkins, The Enquirer, 24 Nov. 2022

On average, cities across Southern California that are supplied by the Metropolitan Water District typically get about one-fourth of their water from the Colorado River. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2022

The western fourth of the state is still abnormally dry, but no severe, extreme or exceptional drought conditions exist anywhere in the state. —From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 31 May 2022

His appearance against North Carolina was his fourth of the season. —Brett Dawson, The Courier-Journal, 2 Feb. 2022

The ponytail has a simple plait that wasn't braided all the way through, leaving the last fourth of the Kanekalon hair to sit freely at the end. —Gabi Thorne, Allure, 8 Oct. 2021

The group ranked from seventh to forty-fourth encompasses Stellantis (#9), BMW (#10), Volvo (#11), Honda (#13), and Ford (#14). —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2021

According to the World Economic Forum’s 2010 Global Gender Gap Report, Italy ranks seventy-fourth in women’s rights, between the Dominican Republic and Gambia. —Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2021

See More

Word History

Etymology

see four

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fourth

• fourth dimension
• a poor second/third/fourth
• sixty-fourth note
• fourth wall
• fourth estate
• fourth world
• sixty-fourth rest
• fourth trimester

• fourth dimension
• a poor second/third/fourth
• sixty-fourth note
• fourth wall
• fourth estate
• fourth world
• sixty-fourth rest
• fourth trimester

See More

Kids Definition

fourth

noun

ˈfō(ə)rth 

ˈfȯ(ə)rth

1

: one that is number four in a series see number

2

: the difference in pitch between the first tone and the fourth tone of a scale

fourth adjective or adverb

fourthly adverb