three

noun

ˈthrē 

1

: a number that is one more than 2 see Table of Numbers

2

: the third in a set or series

the three of hearts

3

a

: something having three units or members

b

: three-pointer

three adjective

three pronoun, plural in construction

Examples of three in a Sentence

“What time is it?” “It's three.”

I leave each day at three.

Recent Examples on the Web

Garland certainly has done his part, averaging 21.3 points, 6.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds, while shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 42.8 percent on threes. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2025

Jay Massa made six threes for Moorpark. Crescenta Valley 61, Burroughs 44: Vaughn Zargarian finished with 35 points for the Falcons. Price 71, LACES 60: Kamari Stewart led Price with 22 points. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025

Last season, Oklahoma City took roughly 4.5 fewer threes from this area of the court but was the most efficient in the entire league, hitting 38.0% of his above-the-break triples. —Nick Crain, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025

Keeping people off the free throw line, not giving up uncontested open threes, uncontested drives to the basket, second shots. —Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 19 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from three, adjective, from Old English thrīe (masculine), thrēo (feminine & neuter); akin to Old High German drī three, Latin tres, Greek treis

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing three

• best (out) of three/five/seven
• the three R's
• thirty-three
• three-bagger
• three-ball
• three-card monte
• three cheers for
• three-color
• three-cornered
• three-decker
• three-dimensional
• three-gaited
• three-handed
• three-legged
• three-legged race
• three-mile limit
• three of a kind
• three-peat
• three-phase
• three-piece
• three-piece suit
• three-piece suite
• three-ply
• three-pointer
• three-point landing
• three-point line
• three-point turn
• three-quarter
• three-quarter-bound
• three-quarters
• three-ring circus
• three R's
• three sheets in the wind
• three sheets to the wind
• three-spined stickleback
• three-toed sloth
• three-way
• three-wheeler
• two's company, three's a crowd

Kids Definition

three

noun

ˈthrē 

1

: a number that is one more than 2 see number

2

: the third in a set or series

the three of hearts

3

a

: something having three units or members

b

: three-pointer

three adjective or pronoun