plural forties
1
: a number equal to four times 10 see Table of Numbers
2
forties plural
: the numbers 40 to 49
specifically
: the years 40 to 49 in a lifetime or century
3
: the third point scored by a side in a game of tennis
4
or 40 US, informal
: a forty-ounce bottle or other container of an alcoholic beverage (such as beer or malt liquor)
Kelvin finished his forty in seven or eight long gulps. Tossed the bottle in the median carpeted with brown grass.—
Dave Byrne
Dave Byrne… smoking weed and drinking 40s while her kids run loose.—Jim Schutze
Jim Schutze
forty
adjective
forty
pronoun, plural in construction
Examples of forty in a Sentence
The temperature outside is in the high forties.
She is in her forties.
Recent Examples on the Web
Armenta is a tall, heavyset man in his forties with a resonant baritone voice; Arias—three years younger, shorter, and thinner—sounds comically chirpy by comparison.
—Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2024
In Luca Guadagnino’s Superb Literary Adaptation – Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival 2024: All Of Deadline’s Movie Reviews
Craig plays William Lee, an American ex-pat in his late forties who leads a solitary life amidst a small working-class and collegiate community in 1950s Mexico City.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2024
Harry is kicking off his forties with a focus on fatherhood.
—Rachel Burchfield, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2024
As Harry enters his forties, those in his inner circle paint a picture of a happy life.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 15 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for forty 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2024
In Luca Guadagnino’s Superb Literary Adaptation – Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival 2024: All Of Deadline’s Movie Reviews
Craig plays William Lee, an American ex-pat in his late forties who leads a solitary life amidst a small working-class and collegiate community in 1950s Mexico City.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2024
Harry is kicking off his forties with a focus on fatherhood.
—Rachel Burchfield, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2024
As Harry enters his forties, those in his inner circle paint a picture of a happy life.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 15 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for forty
Articles Related to forty
Dictionary Entries Near forty
Cite this Entry
“Forty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forty. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share