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; four, -th ²

Example Sentences

During a live television interview before the game’s fourth quarter, he also slammed officials for calling six fouls on UConn and none on South Carolina in the third quarter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Atletico sit fourth in La Liga and are 16 points behind leaders Barcelona, who they face three times in the next two weeks in La Liga and in the Champions League quarter-finals.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Known for brightly lit, blue-floored stores, the brand opens its fourth permanent flagship in Malibu this month.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

The recent fourth season of “Mormon Wives” revisits the crossover, with some of the women’s spouses partaking in their own “Villa” getaway that fuels more drama, including between Mortensen and Paul.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Jonah and I have spent the last few weekends here, helping Dad fix up a couple of units on the fourth floor.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• one-fourth
• part
• portion
• term