three

noun

ˈthrē 

1

: a number that is one more than 2 see Table of Numbers

2

: the third in a set or series

the three of hearts

3

a

: something having three units or members

b

: three-pointer

three adjective

three pronoun, plural in construction

Examples of three in a Sentence

“What time is it?” “It's three.”

I leave each day at three.

Recent Examples on the Web

Santa Margarita 94, Ygnacio Valley 50: Kaiden Bailey had 22 points and Brayden Kyman made six threes and finished with 20 points to help the Eagles advance to face De La Salle on Saturday. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024

However, the Clippers are being smart about what kind of threes to allow. —Shane Young, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Atlanta only made nine of their 31 threes on the night, but the misses created second-chance opportunities on the offensive glass: The Hawks out-rebounded the Knicks, 58-49, and 22 offensive rebounds to just 12 from the Knicks. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 12 Dec. 2024

Acquiring an ace like Fried who consistently puts up ERAs in the threes would be a huge step in the right direction for any franchise, especially those looking to chase the powerhouse Dodgers. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from three, adjective, from Old English thrīe (masculine), thrēo (feminine & neuter); akin to Old High German drī three, Latin tres, Greek treis

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing three

• best (out) of three/five/seven
• the three R's
• thirty-three
• three-bagger
• three-ball
• three-card monte
• three cheers for
• three-color
• three-cornered
• three-decker
• three-dimensional
• three-gaited
• three-handed
• three-legged
• three-legged race
• three-mile limit
• three of a kind
• three-peat
• three-phase
• three-piece
• three-piece suit
• three-piece suite
• three-ply
• three-pointer
• three-point landing
• three-point line
• three-point turn
• three-quarter
• three-quarter-bound
• three-quarters
• three-ring circus
• three R's
• three sheets in the wind
• three sheets to the wind
• three-spined stickleback
• three-toed sloth
• three-way
• three-wheeler
• two's company, three's a crowd

Kids Definition

three

noun

ˈthrē 

1

: a number that is one more than 2 see number

2

: the third in a set or series

the three of hearts

3

a

: something having three units or members

b

: three-pointer

three adjective or pronoun