third

1 of 2

adjective

ˈthərd 

1

a

: being next after the second in place or time

the third taxi in line

b

: ranking next after the second of a grade or degree in authority or precedence

served as third mate

c

: being the forward speed or gear next higher than second especially in a motor vehicle

2

a

: being one of three equal parts into which something is divisible

a third share of the money

b

: being the last in each group of three in a series

take out every third card

third adverb

or thirdly

third

2 of 2

noun

1

a

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

b

: one that is next after second in rank, position, authority, or precedence

the third in line

2

: one of three equal parts of something

a third of the pie

3

: third base

4

: the third forward gear or speed especially of a motor vehicle

5

a

: the musical interval embracing three diatonic degrees

b

: a tone at this interval

specifically : mediant

c

: the harmonic combination of two tones a third apart

6

thirds plural : merchandise whose quality falls below the manufacturer's standard for seconds

Examples of third in a Sentence

Adjective

We sat in the third row.

the third house on the left

C is the third letter in the alphabet.

That's the third time I've seen him today.

The office is on the third floor.

Do you have a third choice?

a third share in the profits

a third pound of cheese

Noun

The win was his third of the year.

a third of the pie

Rent costs two-thirds of my paycheck.

She divided the cookie into thirds.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Jacobs earned his third Pro Bowl selection, while McKinney and Gary were selected for the first time. McKinney, who signed with Green Bay as a free agent in March, 2024, is the first Packers safety to make the Pro Bowl since Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in 2016. —Rob Reischel, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes has the team poised and ready for a shot at a third consecutive Super Bowl title, but one of his streaks came to an end on Thursday. —Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 2 Jan. 2025

Noun

Bottlenose dolphins, who were found to inhale and exhale microplastics, respond to a smile with a smile one third of the time. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025

The restaurants marked for closure are in the lower third of the chain’s performers, with annual unit volumes of $1.9 million to $2 million, executives said at the company’s investor day in October. —Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English thridde, thirde, from Old English thridda, thirdda; akin to Latin tertius third, Greek tritos, treis three — more at three

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing third

• a poor second/third/fourth
• give you the third degree
• petty officer third class
• safe third country agreement
• the third time is the charm
• third base
• third class
• third degree
• third-degree burn
• third-degree murder
• third dimension
• third estate
• third force
• third house
• third market
• third order
• third party
• third person
• third rail
• third-rate
• third reading
• third-stream
• third time lucky
• third ventricle
• third world

Kids Definition

third

1 of 2 adjective

ˈthərd 

1

a

: being number three in a series see number

b

: being next after the second in time, order, or importance

the third taxi in line

2

: being one of three equal parts of something

a third share of the money

third adverb

thirdly adverb

third

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: one that is number three in a series see number

b

: one next after a second in time, order, or importance

the third in line

2

: one of three equal parts of something

a third of the pie

3

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

4

: the third forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle

5

: third base