fourth

American  

[fawrth, fohrth] / fɔrθ, foʊrθ /

adjective

1. next after the third; being the ordinal number for four.

2. being one of four equal parts.

3. Automotive. of, relating to, or operating at the gear transmission ratio at which the drive shaft speed is greater than that of third gear for a given engine crankshaft speed, but not so great as that of fifth gear, if such exists.

   fourth gear.

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noun

1. a fourth part, especially of one (¼).

2. the fourth member of a series.

3. Music.

   1. a tone on the fourth degree from a given tone (counted as the first).

   2. the interval between such tones.

   3. the harmonic combination of such tones.

4. Automotive. fourth gear.

   She downshifted from fifth to fourth as we started up the hill.

5. the Fourth. Independence Day; the Fourth of July.

adverb

1. in the fourth place; fourthly.

fourth British  

/ fɔːθ /

adjective

1. 1. coming after the third in order, position, time, etc. Often written: 4th

   2. ( as noun )

      the fourth in succession

2. denoting the fourth forward ratio of a gearbox in motor vehicles

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noun

1. music

   1. the interval between one note and another four notes away from it counting inclusively along the diatonic scale

   2. one of two notes constituting such an interval in relation to the other See also perfect interval diminished

2. the fourth forward ratio of a gearbox in a motor vehicle

   he changed into fourth as soon as he had passed me

3. a less common word for quarter

adverb

1. after the third person, position, event, etc

1. as the fourth point: linking what follows with the previous statements, as in a speech or argument

Etymology

Origin of fourth

First recorded before 950; Middle English fourthe, Old English fēowertha; see four, -th ²

Example Sentences

Cullen, who is currently working on her fourth poetry collection, said she often returns to a quote from the late American poet and activist Audre Lorde.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

The company posted adjusted earnings of $2.77 a share in its fiscal fourth quarter, up from $2.31 last year and above analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.64, according to FactSet.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

Xi, who is 72, is maneuvering for a fourth term at the 21st Party Congress, expected in late 2027.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

The Templeton Emerging Markets Equity Fund’s adviser share class has ranked fourth for the one- and 10-year periods and third for the three-year and five-year periods.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

In his fourth or fifth year as a puller he started doing tricks.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• one-fourth
• part
• portion
• term