fives

American  

[fahyvz] / faɪvz /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. a game resembling handball, played on a court having a front wall and two side walls.

---

fives British  

/ faɪvz /

noun

1. (functioning as singular) a ball game similar to squash but played with bats or the hands

---

Etymology

Origin of fives

First recorded in 1630–40; five + -s ³

Example Sentences

Manny Farber said that when he was about 4 years old, his father demonstrated to him how a computer worked by writing a computer program on the fly that could count to 100 by fives.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

I plan to use my unit mostly for high fives, and ask only for an AI Mel Blanc voice option that recalls Twiki from the old Buck Rogers in the 25th Century series.

From Barron's • Oct. 31, 2025

He compiled five birdies - including on all three par fives - with his sole bogey coming on the seventh after having to hack out of a fairway bunker.

From BBC • Jul. 12, 2025

For three straight weeks, the Chargers have shared emphatic high fives in their celebratory post-game locker room.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 10, 2025

The first thing I passed was an ATM that let you get your cash in fives, tens, or twenties.

From "Shelter (Book One): A Mickey Bolitar Novel" by Harlan Coben