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

Barbera points to three things that might explain today’s disconnect, none of which is entirely exclusive of one another.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

Gerald Eddie Brown soared the skies for more than three decades, flying jet fighters for the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

There were three ties at Saturday’s awards ceremony.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

It is those habits that will drive Bordeaux's bid to match the great Toulon side of 2013-2015 who won three successive Champions Cups.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

Her mind, it was soon clear, was as active as ever, but the power of speech did not return—with the exception of three words.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom