four
11 synonyms for four, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Num — The number 4, one more than three.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. num
The number 4, one more than three.
“There are four seasons in a year.”
2. noun
The digit or figure 4.
“He drew a big four on the whiteboard.”
How to use four
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
four o'clock
a group of four
on all fours
Etymology
From Old English feower, from Proto-Germanic fedwor, tracing back to the ancient Proto-Indo-European word for the number four.
Full origin of four →Frequently asked questions
What does “four” mean?
The word “four” means the number 4, one more than three. In plain terms, the number after three and before five.
How do you pronounce “four”?
“Four” is pronounced for (/foɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “four” in a sentence?
Here is “four” used in a sentence: “There are four seasons in a year.”
What part of speech is “four”?
Depending on how it is used, “four” can be a num and a noun.
Where does the word “four” come from?
The word “four” comes from Old English. From Old English feower, from Proto-Germanic fedwor, tracing back to the ancient Proto-Indo-European word for the number four.
Is “four” a common word?
“Four” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “four” have?
“Four” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the number 4, one more than three.
What is the difference between 'four', 'for', and 'fore'?
They sound alike but differ completely. 'Four' is the number 4. 'For' is a preposition showing purpose or recipient: 'a gift for you.' 'Fore' means the front, as in 'to the fore' or the golfer's warning 'fore!' Only 'four' refers to the quantity.
How do you spell and write the number four?
The word is spelled f-o-u-r, and the digit is 4. Its ordinal form, marking position in a sequence, is 'fourth,' spelled with the u. Note that the related word 'forty' drops the u, a common spelling trip-up that 'fourteen' does not share.
Is four an even number?
Yes. Four is even because it divides exactly by two. It is also the smallest composite number, having factors beyond one and itself, and the first perfect square after one, since two times two equals four. These traits make it a common building block in mathematics.
