fourth

[ fawrth, fohrth ]

adjective

1. next after the third; being the ordinal number for four.
2. being one of four equal parts.
3. Automotive. of, relating to, or operating at the gear transmission ratio at which the drive shaft speed is greater than that of third gear for a given engine crankshaft speed, but not so great as that of fifth gear, if such exists:

   fourth gear.

noun

1. a fourth part, especially of one (¼).
2. the fourth member of a series.
3. Music.
   1. a tone on the fourth degree from a given tone (counted as the first).
   2. the interval between such tones.
   3. the harmonic combination of such tones.
4. Automotive. fourth gear:

   She downshifted from fifth to fourth as we started up the hill.

5. the Fourth. Independence Day; the Fourth of July.

adverb

1. in the fourth place; fourthly.

fourth

/ fɔːθ /

adjective

1. 1. coming after the third in order, position, time, etc. Often written: 4th
   2. ( as noun )

      the fourth in succession

2. denoting the fourth forward ratio of a gearbox in motor vehicles

noun

1. music
   1. the interval between one note and another four notes away from it counting inclusively along the diatonic scale
   2. one of two notes constituting such an interval in relation to the other See also perfect interval diminished
2. the fourth forward ratio of a gearbox in a motor vehicle

   he changed into fourth as soon as he had passed me

3. a less common word for quarter

adverb

1. after the third person, position, event, etc

sentence connector

1. as the fourth point: linking what follows with the previous statements, as in a speech or argument

Word History and Origins

Origin of fourth¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English fourthe, Old English fēowertha; four, -th ²

Example Sentences

Justin Ashley, who led the top fuel points standings for much of last season before finishing fourth, will enter Sunday’s final day of racing on top again.

From Los Angeles Times

Week two: Against the Bengals, the Chiefs' win probability was 15.5% in the fourth quarter, before Harrison Butker won it with a field goal as time expired.

From BBC

Week three: The defence stepped up against the Falcons and forced two turnovers in the fourth quarter, deep in Chiefs territory.

From BBC

On Thursday, Roma hired their fourth coach of the calendar year - 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri, who had retired in May - while they are currently 12th in Serie A, just four points above the relegation zone.

From BBC

Herbert scored his first rushing touchdown in more than a year last week, improvising on a fourth down in the red zone that was called for the quarterback to rush out wide to the right side.

From Los Angeles Times