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

In November 2025, polling by Mental Health UK found more than one in three UK residents now use AI to support their mental health or wellbeing.

From BBC

In Liverpool's three league games that followed their golden start, they faced Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Manchester United and conceded winning goals in the 84th minute or later each time.

From BBC

Rajadhyaksha has been neutral on risk assets for the last three weeks but now detects grounds for a more constructive approach.

From MarketWatch

A short two to three months later, Malinin, who trains primarily with his parents in his native Virginia, sent a video of him landing the quad axel in practice.

From Los Angeles Times

Members of Congress will be allowed to view the unredacted versions of the nearly three million pages in person at the Department of Justice starting on Monday, the BBC's US news partner CBS reported.

From BBC