1
a
: being next after the second in place or time
the third taxi in line
b
: ranking next after the second of a grade or degree in authority or precedence
served as third mate
c
: being the forward speed or gear next higher than second especially in a motor vehicle
2
a
: being one of three equal parts into which something is divisible
a third share of the money
b
: being the last in each group of three in a series
take out every third card
third
adverb
or thirdly
1
a
: one that is number three in a series see Table of Numbers
b
: one that is next after second in rank, position, authority, or precedence
the third in line
2
: one of three equal parts of something
a third of the pie
3
4
: the third forward gear or speed especially of a motor vehicle
5
a
: the musical interval embracing three diatonic degrees
b
: a tone at this interval
specifically
: mediant
c
: the harmonic combination of two tones a third apart
6
thirds plural
: merchandise whose quality falls below the manufacturer's standard for seconds
Examples of third in a Sentence
Adjective
We sat in the third row.
the third house on the left
C is the third letter in the alphabet.
That's the third time I've seen him today.
The office is on the third floor.
Do you have a third choice?
a third share in the profits
a third pound of cheese
Noun
The win was his third of the year.
a third of the pie
Rent costs two-thirds of my paycheck.
She divided the cookie into thirds.
Recent Examples on the Web
David Ammenheuser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 July 2024
Mark Stanton, 60, serves as vice mayor and is in his third term as a councilmember.
—Sam Kmack, The Arizona Republic, 8 July 2024
News Desk, Artforum, 9 July 2024
About 1,000 have pleaded or been found guilty at trial, a third of them for felonies and two-thirds for misdemeanors.
—Spencer S. Hsu, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for third 
Adjective
That’s a stark contrast to the 2023 game in Seattle when the Rangers had six players on the team, including starters catcher Jonah Heim, second baseman Marcus Semien, shortstop Corey Seager, third baseman Josh Jung and outfielder Adolis Garcia.
—David Ammenheuser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 July 2024
Mark Stanton, 60, serves as vice mayor and is in his third term as a councilmember.
—Sam Kmack, The Arizona Republic, 8 July 2024
Noun
The Americas are strongly represented, with nearly two thirds of participants coming from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru, and Uruguay; countries appearing for the first time include Indonesia and Romania.
—News Desk, Artforum, 9 July 2024
About 1,000 have pleaded or been found guilty at trial, a third of them for felonies and two-thirds for misdemeanors.
—Spencer S. Hsu, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for third
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'third.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Third.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/third. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
third
2 of 2 noun1
a
: one that is number three in a series see number
b
: one next after a second in time, order, or importance
the third in line
2
: one of three equal parts of something
a third of the pie
3
: the difference in pitch between the first tone and the third tone of a scale
4
: the third forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle
5
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