three

American  

[three] / θri /

noun

threes plural

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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• threes
  plural

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

Three volunteers were shown prices for that route below $40, while 17 other volunteers were shown prices around $47.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

Three hours after signing the deal, Trump walked out of the Oval Office with UFC Chief Executive Dana White to cheers from the more than 4,000 spectators.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026

While there were England fans around, it was not the familiar picture of bars being taken over by the Three Lions.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026

Three experts in women's health are holding an event to help provide a space for open conversations.

From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026

Three hundred years ago, everybody "knew" that anger was controlled by the spleen.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman