fives

American  

[fahyvz] / faɪvz /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. a game resembling handball, played on a court having a front wall and two side walls.

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fives British  

/ faɪvz /

noun

1. (functioning as singular) a ball game similar to squash but played with bats or the hands

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Etymology

Origin of fives

First recorded in 1630–40; five + -s ³

Example Sentences

Manny Farber said that when he was about 4 years old, his father demonstrated to him how a computer worked by writing a computer program on the fly that could count to 100 by fives.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Young gave high fives to fans as he left toward the locker room.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

The outbreak in Enfield comes as the government launches a wider campaign to improve childhood vaccination uptake for measles and other jabs for under fives.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

I plan to use my unit mostly for high fives, and ask only for an AI Mel Blanc voice option that recalls Twiki from the old Buck Rogers in the 25th Century series.

From Barron's • Oct. 31, 2025

We were gathered around her as if we’d never in all our fives heard of delicious food or elegant people!

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank