third
adjective
\ ˈthərd
\
\
Definition of third
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: being next after the second in place or time
the third taxi in line
b
: ranking next after the second of a grade or degree in authority or precedence
served as third mate
c
: being the forward speed or gear next higher than second especially in a motor vehicle
2a
: being one of three equal parts into which something is divisible
a third share of the money
b
: being the last in each group of three in a series
take out every third card
third
nounDefinition of third (Entry 2 of 2)
1a
: one that is number three in a series — see Table of Numbers
b
: one that is next after second in rank, position, authority, or precedence
the third in line
2
: one of three equal parts of something
a third of the pie
3
: third base
4
: the third forward gear or speed especially of a motor vehicle
5a
: the musical interval embracing three diatonic degrees
c
: the harmonic combination of two tones a third apart
6
thirds plural
: merchandise whose quality falls below the manufacturer's standard for seconds
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Examples of third in a Sentence
Adjective
We sat in the third row. the third house on the left C is the third letter in the alphabet. That's the third time I've seen him today. The office is on the third floor. Do you have a third choice? a third share in the profits a third pound of cheeseNoun
The win was his third of the year. a third of the pie Rent costs two-thirds of my paycheck. She divided the cookie into thirds.
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
The unemployment rate remained 3.7% for a third straight month, the Labor Department said Friday , near the lowest level in five decades. — Time, "U.S. Hiring Slows But Remains Steady Amid Trade War and Global Economic Weakness," 6 Sep. 2019 The unemployment rate stayed at 3.7% for a third straight month, near the lowest level in five decades. — Washington Post, "Modest hiring enough to fuel sluggish but durable US economy," 6 Sep. 2019 In her first major since her post-cancer scare, the former Stanford star pushed Simona Halep to a third set. — Jon Wertheim, SI.com, "U.S. Open Midterm Grades: Taylor Townsend, Serena, Big Three Get High Marks," 1 Sep. 2019 Nickson Industrial Warehouses, led by Charles G. Nickson, plans to develop a 30,000-square-foot office/warehouse project, its third speculative development in the park. — Katherine Feser, Houston Chronicle, "Real estate transactions: Medical office building breaks ground in Bellaire," 30 Aug. 2019 Cephus came in on UW’s third offensive play of the game and on the sixth play recorded a 13-yard reception. — Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "No. 19 UW 49, South Florida 0: Mother Nature can only delay the inevitable as Badgers win in rout," 30 Aug. 2019 Machado’s 27th home run was his first this month, snapping an 83-at-bat drought that checked in as third longest power outage of his career. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Padres notes: Machado busts out, Muñoz growing up and Rick-rolling Red Sox Nation," 25 Aug. 2019 The tying touchdown wouldn’t have been possible without Tony Fields II’s interception of Cole McDonald at the UA 10-yard line – the Wildcats’ third pick of McDonald in the first half. — Michael Lev, azcentral, "Arizona football comes up yard short in loss to Hawaii," 24 Aug. 2019 East Central showed a quick-strike capability with Fike breaking out of a scrum and romping 53 yards for the game-tying touchdown on East Central’s third play of the next drive. — Mark Schmetzer, Cincinnati.com, "Indiana high school football: East Central beats Lawrenceburg for third year in row, 30-12," 23 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
On Prescott’s third, Amari Cooper welcomed the rookie cornerback Deandre Baker to the league by catching a 21-yard fade. — Ben Shpigel, New York Times, "Cowboys’ Long Drives Keep Giants’ Saquon Barkley Off the Field," 8 Sep. 2019 On that day, Romelu Lukaku scored twice, with Kevin De Bruyne adding a late third to round off a comfortable 3-0 win. — SI.com, "Scotland vs Belgium: Where to Watch, Buy Tickets, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News," 6 Sep. 2019 Ruddo nearly made a hole-in-one on the par 3 third hole. — Brent Kennedy, baltimoresun.com, "Glenelg golf earns sweep of Hammond," 6 Sep. 2019 According to WeddingWire, nearly a third of bachelorette parties last three or more days, and nearly 40% of attendees who flew to a destination bachelorette party reported spending over $1,000. — Hope Corrigan, Quartzy, "Today’s bachelorette parties have everything—except budgets," 6 Sep. 2019 The Raiders waived four players with an injury designation - including defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes, their 2017 third-round pick - and waived five others including linebacker James Cowser. — Matt Kawahara, SFChronicle.com, "Raiders’ Brandon Marshall, Eddie Vanderdoes among first wave of roster cuts," 30 Aug. 2019 The senior won the Class A state championship in the 110-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles, and helped Brossart finish third in the 4x200 relay and fourth in the 4x400. — Melanie Laughman, Cincinnati.com, "Enquirer, Reds to honor Cincinnati.com Sports Awards spring athletes of the year," 19 Aug. 2019 In all three Washington cases this year involving paddleboarders who drowned — an Auburn man who died in Lake Cle Elum; a man who died in Spanaway Lake; and a third who died in Lake Washington — police said that none was wearing life jackets. — Erik Lacitis, The Seattle Times, "‘Life jacket lottery’: 3 have drowned while paddleboarding this year in Washington," 28 July 2019 In this type of partnership, infertility happens due to issues with the partner with the ovaries one third of the time, the partner with the testicles another third, and both partners the remaining third. — Natasha Lavender, SELF, "So, Let’s Talk About That Whole Fertility and Age 35 Thing," 22 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'third.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for third
third
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of third
(Entry 1 of 2)
: occupying the number three position in a series
: next to the second in importance or rank
: equal in size, value, amount, etc., to one third of something
third
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of third (Entry 2 of 2)
: something that is third : the third thing in a series
: one of three equal parts of something
: the third forward gear or speed of a vehicle
See the full definition for third in the English Language Learners Dictionary
third
adjective