ten
tehn
Ten (number) means the number after nine and before eleven, written as 10. Example: “I need ten minutes to get ready before we leave.”
number
1
The number after nine and before eleven, written as 10.
"I need ten minutes to get ready before we leave."
"She counted to ten before opening her eyes."
"There were ten people waiting outside the shop."
noun
1
Informally, a person or thing considered flawless or perfect, especially in looks.
"Her dress was a ten, and everyone in the room noticed."
"He rated the view a perfect ten."
"Everyone agreed the routine was a ten."
How to use ten
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe number 10, or informally, something rated as perfect.
Common pairings
a perfect ten
top ten
count to ten
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Word forms
- Plural
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I need _____ minutes to get ready before we leave.
Etymology
From Old English tien, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dekm, the ancient root behind "ten" in many related languages.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for ten
See all rhymes for ten →Frequently asked questions
What does “ten” mean?
The word “ten” means the number after nine and before eleven, written as 10. In plain terms, the number 10, or informally, something rated as perfect.
How do you pronounce “ten”?
“Ten” is pronounced tehn (/tɛn/ in IPA).
How do you use “ten” in a sentence?
Here is “ten” used in a sentence: “She counted to ten before opening her eyes.”
What part of speech is “ten”?
Depending on how it is used, “ten” can be a number and a noun.
Where does the word “ten” come from?
The word “ten” comes from Old English. From Old English tien, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dekm, the ancient root behind "ten" in many related languages.
Is “ten” a common word?
“Ten” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “ten” have?
“Ten” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the number after nine and before eleven, written as 10.
What is ten in Roman numerals?
Ten is written as X in Roman numerals. It is a key building block of the system, since X can be combined with other symbols, as in XI for eleven, IX for nine, and XX for twenty. The letter X standing for ten dates back to ancient Rome.
Is ten an even number?
Yes. Ten divides exactly by two to give five, with nothing left over, so it is an even number. It is also the base of the decimal system we count in, which is why numbers roll over into a new column every time they reach ten.
What comes after ten?
Eleven comes immediately after ten, and nine comes just before it. Ten is the first two-digit whole number, written as 10, and it marks the point where counting moves from single digits into the tens column.
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