three

American  

[three] / θri /

noun

1. a cardinal number, 2 plus 1.

2. a symbol for this number, as 3 or III.

3. a set of this many persons or things.

4. a playing card, die face, or half of a domino face with three pips.

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adjective

1. amounting to three in number.

idioms

1. three sheets in the wind. sheet.

three British  

/ θriː /

noun

1. the cardinal number that is the sum of two and one and is a prime number See also number

2. a numeral, 3, III, (iii), representing this number

3. the amount or quantity that is one greater than two

4. something representing, represented by, or consisting of three units such as a playing card with three symbols on it

5. Also called: three o'clock.  three hours after noon or midnight

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determiner

1. 1. amounting to three

      three ships

   2. ( as pronoun )

      three were killed

Etymology

Origin of three

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English thrēo, thrīo, feminine and neuter of thrī(e); cognate with Dutch drie, German drei, Old Norse thrīr, Gothic threis, Greek treîs, Latin trēs “three,” ter “thrice,” Irish trí, Old Church Slavonic tri, Sanskrit trī, tráyas

Example Sentences

Dart fought back from a set down to beat Liudmila Samsonova 5-7 6-4 6-3 in one of only three matches completed on Monday as the rain wreaked havoc with the schedule.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

Both are in Bengaluru, and each lasts three to four days with accommodations provided.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

Wang himself, who stepped down as state vice president three years ago, has been spared so far.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Bafana Bafana failed to qualify for the next three World Cups.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

She had three and a half hours to make one hundred pieces of frybread.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith