fourth

noun

plural fourths ˈfȯr(th)s How to pronounce fourth (audio)
1
: one that is number four in a series
I was the fourth to arrive.
They arrive on the fourth. [=the fourth day of the month]
see Table of Numbers
2
: one of four equal parts of something : quarter entry 1
Cut the cake into fourths.
a fourth of the population
3
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
4
: the fourth forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle
shifted into fourth
5
the Fourth : July 4 observed as a legal holiday in the U.S. in commemoration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 : Fourth of July
watched fireworks on the Fourth

called also Independence Day

fourth adjective or adverb
the fourth edition of a book
the fourth tallest mountain
fourthly adverb
Fourthly, don't sing a whole opera through … Mark Twain

Examples of fourth in a Sentence

cut the cake into fourths She drank a fourth of the bottle.
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.
Snider, who scored three runs and drove in two and walked, hit a two-run homer in the fourth. Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2025 Fritz, the No. 4 seed and not a natural on clay, is seeded to face compatriot Alex Michelsen in the third round, and then another American, either Sebastian Korda or Frances Tiafoe, in the fourth. Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 22 May 2025 The game itself was entertaining until the late third quarter to the fourth. Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025 The Giants had solo home runs from Matt Chapman in the third inning, his ninth of the season, and Patrick Bailey in the fourth, his first, before a home crowd of 29,064. Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for fourth

Word History

Etymology

see four

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of fourth was in 1594

Cite this Entry

“Fourth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fourth. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

fourth

noun
ˈfō(ə)rth How to pronounce fourth (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on fourth

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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