1
: one that is number six in a series
We'll be arriving on the sixth.
Her office is the sixth on the left.
see Table of Numbers
2
: one of six equal parts of something
one sixth of the total
3
a
: a musical interval embracing six diatonic degrees
b
: a tone at this interval
specifically : submediant
c
: the harmonic combination of two tones a sixth apart
sixth adjective or adverb
the book's sixth chapter
the state's sixth largest city
sixthly adverb
Sixthly, don't let your screaming tenor soar an octave above all the balance of the chorus … Mark Twain

Examples of sixth in a Sentence

Only about a sixth of the town voted for her.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Payne’s first made three of the night was New York’s sixth in its first nine attempts. Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2025 So a way to satisfy the demand would be to create more games: The championship games are still held between the top two seeds, but then the conferences hold additional CFP play-in games: third in the standings versus sixth for one spot, fourth versus fifth for another. Seth Emerson, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025 Burnsville broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Tom Schardin, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025 Prospect watch: Right-hander Zach Agnos, hoping to impress enough to earn a spot in the big-league bullpen, served up solo home runs to Tyler Stephenson and Will Benson in Cincinnati’s two-run sixth. Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sixth

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sixth was in the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sixth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sixth. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

plural sixths
1
: one that is number six in a series see number
2
: the difference in pitch between the first tone and the sixth tone of a scale
sixth adjective or adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on sixth

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