plural fourths
ˈfȯr(th)s 
1
: one that is number four in a series
I was the fourth to arrive.
They arrive on the fourth. [=the fourth day of the month]
see Table of Numbers
2
: one of four equal parts of something : quarter entry 1
Cut the cake into fourths.
a fourth of the population
3
a
: a musical interval (see interval sense 2) embracing four tones of the diatonic scale
b
: a tone at this interval
specifically
: subdominant sense 1
c
: the harmonic combination of two tones a fourth apart
4
: the fourth forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle
shifted into fourth
5
the Fourth
: July 4 observed as a legal holiday in the U.S. in commemoration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 : Fourth of July
watched fireworks on the Fourth
called also Independence Day
fourth
adjective or adverb
the fourth edition of a book
the fourth tallest mountain
fourthly
adverb
Fourthly, don't sing a whole opera through …
—
Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Examples of fourth in a Sentence
cut the cake into fourths
She drank a fourth of the bottle.
Recent Examples on the Web
In the fourth, Llamas hit a towering homer over the 15-foot left-field fence to make it 2-0.
—Jim Lindgren, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2024
Tyler Soderstrom put the A’s on the board with a two-out double in the fourth.
—Staff and Wire Reports, The Mercury News, 19 May 2024
Soriano retired the first 10 hitters of the game before Seager hit a first-pitch knuckle curve over the right field fence in the fourth.
—Jeff Fletcher, Orange County Register, 19 May 2024
In the fourth, the rookie right-hander escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam unscathed by getting Bryan De La Cruz to fly out to shortstop and Josh Bell to ground into a fielder’s choice.
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 18 May 2024
About one fourth of the book also includes pieces from the Ganjei family’s personal collection including Joshua Ganjei’s incredible gem-set Cartier Crash pictured above.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 17 May 2024
Then, a series of pitch-consuming jams forced him from the game with one out in the fourth.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2024
Employees were shocked by the unexpected shuttering Tuesday of three Xbox subsidiaries and the absorption of a fourth.
—Jason Schreier, Fortune, 9 May 2024
In the fourth, the first violin (bracingly performed by Otto, who otherwise played second violin in the concert) loudly plays one note, then two, which are answered by a pianissimo twenty-note melody in the other three instruments.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2024
Jim Lindgren, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2024
Tyler Soderstrom put the A’s on the board with a two-out double in the fourth.
—Staff and Wire Reports, The Mercury News, 19 May 2024
Soriano retired the first 10 hitters of the game before Seager hit a first-pitch knuckle curve over the right field fence in the fourth.
—Jeff Fletcher, Orange County Register, 19 May 2024
In the fourth, the rookie right-hander escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam unscathed by getting Bryan De La Cruz to fly out to shortstop and Josh Bell to ground into a fielder’s choice.
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 18 May 2024
About one fourth of the book also includes pieces from the Ganjei family’s personal collection including Joshua Ganjei’s incredible gem-set Cartier Crash pictured above.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 17 May 2024
Then, a series of pitch-consuming jams forced him from the game with one out in the fourth.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2024
Employees were shocked by the unexpected shuttering Tuesday of three Xbox subsidiaries and the absorption of a fourth.
—Jason Schreier, Fortune, 9 May 2024
In the fourth, the first violin (bracingly performed by Otto, who otherwise played second violin in the concert) loudly plays one note, then two, which are answered by a pianissimo twenty-note melody in the other three instruments.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fourth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to fourth
Dictionary Entries Near fourth
Cite this Entry
“Fourth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fourth. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share