fourth

American  

[fawrth, fohrth] / fɔrθ, foʊrθ /

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.

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noun

fourths plural

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 British  

/ 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

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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

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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• fourths
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fourth

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

Example Sentences

The Dodgers broke through against the Padres’ bullpen to score six runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2026

He's had an extra few days to prepare for Wimbledon and Otto, who caused the biggest shock of the men's draw by beating American fourth seed Ben Shelton in five sets, will be knackered.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026

Blazy is only the fourth creative director in Chanel's history and has made a promising start to his task of moving the brand on from the 40-year period defined by its legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld.

From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026

The unemployment rate is projected to stay at 4.3% in June for the fourth month in a row.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026

The fourth, however, which was the one Tiamat was closest to catching, jumped right onto the table.

From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville

Related Words

• one-fourth
• part
• portion
• term