nth

American  

[enth] / ɛnθ /

adjective

1. being the last in a series of infinitely decreasing or increasing values, amounts, etc.

2. (of an item in a series of occurrences, planned events, things used, etc., that is thought of as being infinitely large) being the latest, or most recent.

   This is the nth time I've told you to eat slowly.

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idioms

1. the nth degree / power,

   1. a high degree or power.

   2. the utmost degree or extent.

      The new hotel was luxurious to the nth degree.

nth ¹ British  

/ ɛnθ /

adjective

1. maths of or representing an unspecified ordinal number, usually the greatest in a series of values

   the nth power

2. informal being the last, most recent, or most extreme of a long series

   for the nth time, eat your lunch!

3. informal to the utmost extreme; as much as possible

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Nth ² British  

abbreviation

1. North

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nth More Idioms  

1. see to the nth degree.

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Etymology

Origin of nth

First recorded in 1850–55; N (the symbol in mathematics) + -th ²

Explanation

Use the adjective nth to mean "utmost" or "most recent in a very long series," like when you have to ask your brother for the nth time to please stop borrowing money from your piggy bank. Mathematicians use this term to represent an indefinite number: "Here's a formula for finding nth roots." In everyday speech, nth satisfies a similar need — it stands for an unspecific large number. So you might complain that it's the nth time this month you've missed the bus, or that a popular TV show is stupid to the nth degree. Nth has been used in this way since the late 1800s, from n as an abbreviation of number.

Example Sentences

“Never did I see a more sorrowful sight, nor witness retribution to the nth degree,” he lamented.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

Everything that Thomas Tuchel said what he wanted from his team they have followed it out to the nth degree.

From BBC • Sep. 9, 2025

So what’s the added value of this nth recording of the Sondheim masterwork?

From New York Times • Feb. 29, 2024

Catherine and Peter have taken the ups and downs of a married couple to the nth degree, but they seem to arrive at a place of reconciliation this season.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2023

It wasn’t fully healed, but Dad said its chances were better with the mountain than ^ nth us.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover