twenty

noun

twen·​ty ˈtwen-tē How to pronounce twenty (audio) ˈtwən- How to pronounce twenty (audio)
plural twenties
1
: a number equal to two times 10 see Table of Numbers
2
twenties plural : the numbers 20 to 29
specifically : the years 20 to 29 in a lifetime or century
3
: a 20-dollar bill
twentieth adjective or noun
twenty adjective
twenty pronoun, plural in construction

Examples of twenty in a Sentence

Tomorrow the temperature will be in the low twenties.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Isabella Strahan and her twin sister Sophia are gracefully exiting their teens and entering their twenties. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 29 Oct. 2024 Some have questioned whether Todd, who would have been in his early twenties when the bitcoin white paper was published, would have been capable of developing a sophisticated peer-to-peer digital cash system—a problem that had confounded many talented and experienced cryptographers before him. Joel Khalili, WIRED, 22 Oct. 2024 Back on January 31, 1992, the three soldiers, then in their early twenties, were together at a wedding rehearsal the day before Jones was set to get married. Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2024 Realistically, the price tag is probably even higher as teenagers today generally stick around the family home well into their twenties. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for twenty 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from twenty, adjective, from Old English twēntig, noun, group of 20, from twēn- (akin to Old English twā two) + -tig group of 10; akin to Old English tīen ten — more at two, ten

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of twenty was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near twenty

Cite this Entry

“Twenty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twenty. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

twenty

noun
twen·​ty ˈtwent-ē How to pronounce twenty (audio)
plural twenties
: a number equal to two times 10 see number
twenty adjective or pronoun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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