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
Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic, 27 Jan. 2025
Its third café, in an old gemstone shop in the lively Chueca district, is Instagram-ready and coffee-obsessed.
—Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 26 Jan. 2025
Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
Szoboszlai is on course to better those numbers this season, with his goal against Ipswich his third in the league and fourth of the season overall, alongside five assists in all competitions.
—Andy Jones, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for third 
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Adjective
What this means for the Seahawks Assuming Geno Smith is Seattle’s starting quarterback in 2025, Kubiak will be his third play caller in four years (Smith was also the backup quarterback under offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer for two seasons).
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic, 27 Jan. 2025
Its third café, in an old gemstone shop in the lively Chueca district, is Instagram-ready and coffee-obsessed.
—Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 26 Jan. 2025
Noun
More than half of the suits by the city were filed against individual owners and less than a third were filed against businesses, according to court records analyzed by the Herald.
—Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
Szoboszlai is on course to better those numbers this season, with his goal against Ipswich his third in the league and fourth of the season overall, alongside five assists in all competitions.
—Andy Jones, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for third
Articles Related to third
Dictionary Entries Near third
Cite this Entry
“Third.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/third. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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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