third
Noun pluralthirds
Pluralthirds
Formsthirds, thirding, thirded
- 1Coming after the second in order or position.
Like being number three when you count one, two, three.
She finished in third place at the race.
My desk is the third one from the door.
UsageSay the third row. Write it as 3rd.
Note
- 2One of three equal parts that make up a whole.
Like one of three equal slices of a pie.
Cut the pizza and give me a third of it.
She ate a third of the cake by herself.
UsageSay a third of the cake.
- 3Used to bring in the third point in a list, or to say someone finished in third place.
First, wash your hands. Second, dry them. Third, put on the gloves.
Our team finished third in the school spelling bee.
UsageSay third to give a point or a place: came third.
Similarthirdly
- 4The person or thing that is third in order.
Like the person standing third in a line.
She was the third to cross the finish line.
Among the guests, he was the third to leave.
UsageSay the third to arrive.
- 5The base a runner must touch before heading home to score.
Like the third corner you touch before getting back home.
He ran to third after the big hit.
She was tagged out trying to steal third.
UsageSay on third, without base.
Note
Less common meanings
- 6The gear used after second, for medium speeds in a car.
Shift into third as you climb the hill.
He dropped into third to pass the truck.
UsageSay shift into third.
- 7A musical step between the first and third notes of a scale.
Like a small jump up a short ladder of musical notes.
The singer harmonized a third above the melody.
Play C and E together on the piano to hear a third.
Note
- 8To support an idea after two other people have already agreed to it.
Like being the third person to raise a hand for the same idea.
I third the idea of leaving early today.
Sam suggested pizza, Mia agreed, and I thirded it.
UsageSay I'll third that to agree, as a joke.
Oppositeoppose
- 9The lowest level of a British honors degree, below the second class.
He finished his degree with a third.
Getting a third still let her graduate.
UsageSay get a third in history.
- 10To split something into three equal parts.
Similartrisect
- 11In golf, an extra stroke given on every third hole to even a match.
Note
- 12
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
It comes from Old English "þridda," meaning third.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
- Third comes from Old English þridda. en.wiktionary.org
- Old English þridda means third. en.wiktionary.org