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
Mabini’s kick return score came on the opening play of the second half, which was part of a run of three straight Rebels (10-1) TDs that gave them a 28-7 lead early in the fourth.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 17 Nov. 2024
With Davis absent for the final 17-plus minutes, LeBron James dialed up his intensity in the latter stages of the third quarter and early in the fourth, helping the Lakers turn a five-point deficit late in the third (77-72) into a double-digit (103-89) early in the fourth.
—Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 10 Nov. 2024
The Bucs scored 10 straight points in the third before Kansas City answered with back-to-back touchdowns in the fourth.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Asians make up the largest minority in District 47: One fourth of the district’s 755,000 residents are Asian.
—Defne Karabatur, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fourth 
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.
Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 17 Nov. 2024
With Davis absent for the final 17-plus minutes, LeBron James dialed up his intensity in the latter stages of the third quarter and early in the fourth, helping the Lakers turn a five-point deficit late in the third (77-72) into a double-digit (103-89) early in the fourth.
—Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 10 Nov. 2024
The Bucs scored 10 straight points in the third before Kansas City answered with back-to-back touchdowns in the fourth.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Asians make up the largest minority in District 47: One fourth of the district’s 755,000 residents are Asian.
—Defne Karabatur, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fourth
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 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share