eleven

noun

elev·​en i-ˈle-vən 

1

: a number that is one more than 10 see Table of Numbers

2

: the 11th in a set or series

3

: something having 11 units or members

especially : a football team

eleven adjective

eleven pronoun, plural in construction

eleventh

i-ˈle-vən(t)th 

adjective or noun

Examples of eleven in a Sentence

I got home last night at eleven.

Recent Examples on the Web

Both teams are still suffering from their fair share of injuries, meaning there’ll be some changes put in place from the teams’ normal starting elevens. —SI.com, 28 Oct. 2019

Patrick Mahomes fumbled on what would have a been a third and eleven converting run, but the ball went out of bounds one yard shy of the first down marker. —Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2020

Through the show’s broadcast, viewers at home saw their favorite musicians dressed to the nines, tens, and elevens (some peacocking in meme-making looks). —Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2020

Poland entered the game as favourites due to their eighth-place position in the current FIFA rankings but there was little to choose between the two starting elevens. —SI.com, 19 June 2018

His early struggles at Anfield and his time out of the starting eleven appears to have benefited the English midfielder. —SI.com, 9 Jan. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enleven, from enleven, adjective, from Old English endleofan, from end- (alteration of ān one) + -leofan; akin to Old English lēon to lend — more at one, loan

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing eleven

• eleven-plus

Kids Definition

eleven

noun

elev·​en i-ˈlev-ən 

1

: a number that is one more than 10 see number

2

: the eleventh in a set or series

3

: something having 11 units or members

eleven adjective or pronoun

eleventh

-ən(t)th 

noun

eleventh adjective or adverb