third
thurd
Third (adj) means coming after the second and before the fourth in a sequence; ordinal form of three. Example: “She came third in the race.”
adj
1
Coming after the second and before the fourth in a sequence; ordinal form of three.
"She came third in the race."
"This is the third time he's been late this week."
"Our flat is on the third floor, so we take the lift."
noun
1
One of three equal parts of something.
"A third of the audience left before the end."
"Cut the pizza into thirds so that all three of us get a fair share."
"Only a third of the garden gets sun in the morning."
How to use third
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe one after second — either describing position in a sequence, or one of three equal parts.
Common pairings
third place
a third of
third time lucky
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- thirds
- Past tense
- thirded
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She came _____ in the race.
Etymology
From Old English þridda, related to "three".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for third
See all rhymes for third →Frequently asked questions
What does “third” mean?
The word “third” means coming after the second and before the fourth in a sequence; ordinal form of three. In plain terms, the one after second — either describing position in a sequence, or one of three equal parts.
How do you pronounce “third”?
“Third” is pronounced thurd (/θɚd/ in IPA).
How do you use “third” in a sentence?
Here is “third” used in a sentence: “She came third in the race.”
What part of speech is “third”?
Depending on how it is used, “third” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “third” come from?
The word “third” comes from Old English. From Old English þridda, related to "three".
Is “third” a common word?
“Third” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “third” have?
“Third” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: coming after the second and before the fourth in a sequence; ordinal form of three.
What is the difference between 'third' and 'three'?
'Three' is a cardinal number — it counts how many, as in three apples. 'Third' is the matching ordinal — it shows position in order, as in the third apple or coming third in a race. Three answers 'how many'; third answers 'which one' or 'in what place.'
What does 'a third' mean as a fraction?
As a fraction, a third means one of three equal parts of a whole, written 1/3. Splitting something into thirds divides it three ways evenly. As a decimal it is 0.333…, repeating without end. So 'a third of a cake' is one of three equal slices.
How do you write 'third' as a number?
Third is written '3rd' in figures, combining the digit 3 with the ordinal ending '-rd.' You see it in dates (3rd May), rankings (3rd place) and lists. The word form is 'third,' while '3rd' is the shorthand used in tables, addresses and anywhere space is tight.
What does it mean to come third?
To come third is to finish in the position after first and second — the third-best result in a race or contest. In many events it earns the bronze medal. Being third means two others ranked ahead of you, but you still placed above everyone from fourth onward.
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