triple

[ trip-uhl ]

adjective

1. threefold; consisting of three parts:

   a triple knot.

2. of three kinds; threefold in character or relationship.
3. three times as great.
4. International Law. tripartite.

noun

1. an amount, number, etc., three times as great as another.
2. a group, set, or series of three; something threefold; triad.
3. Also called three-base hit. Baseball. a base hit that enables a batter to reach third base safely.
4. Bowling. three strikes in succession.
5. trifecta.

verb (used with object)

, tri·pled, tri·pling.

1. to make triple.
2. Baseball. to cause to come into home plate by a triple:

   to triple a runner home; to triple a run in.

verb (used without object)

, tri·pled, tri·pling.

1. to become triple.
2. Baseball. to make a triple.

triple

/ ˈtrɪpəl /

adjective

1. consisting of three parts; threefold
2. (of musical time or rhythm) having three beats in each bar
3. three times as great or as much

noun

1. a threefold amount
2. a group of three

verb

1. to increase or become increased threefold; treble

Derived Forms

• ˈtriply, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of triple¹

1325–75; Middle English (noun and v.) < Latin triplus (adj.), equivalent to tri- tri- + ( du ) plus duple

Word History and Origins

Origin of triple¹

C16: from Latin triplus

Example Sentences

In addition, last week the US government reaffirmed at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or Cop29, held in Azerbaijan, that it intends to triple nuclear power generation by 2050.

From BBC

Overall state pensions went up 8.5% this year because the longstanding "triple lock" policy means payments were linked to rises in earnings.

From BBC

Doing so, could as much as triple the realistic capacity for building compared to current rules, Phillips said.

From Los Angeles Times

After coming to power in May 2023, President Bola Tinubu said the subsidy was unsustainable and suddenly cut it - pump prices immediately tripled.

From BBC

She went on to joke that she has come "a long way" and now considers herself "a triple threat, which in England means I sing, I drink, and I smoke".

From BBC

Related Words

• threefold

More About Triple

What is a basic definition of triple?

Triple describes something as being made of three parts or being three times as great. Triple also means a set of three. The word triple has several other senses as an adjective, noun, and verb. In any sense, the word triple always has to do with the number three.

Triple often describes something that is made of three parts or contains three of something.

• Real-life examples: A triple-layer cake has three layers. A triple homicide involves the murder of three people. A triple-decker bus has three decks of seats. A cardplayer who has triple aces has three cards with aces on them.
• Used in a sentence: My famous triple-layer cake has two layers of chocolate cake and one layer of vanilla cake. 

Triple also often describes something that is three times as great as something else. For example, a couch that is triple the price of another couch costs three times as much.

• Used in a sentence: I sold my bike for $300, which is triple the $100 I paid for it.  

In this sense, triple is used as a verb to mean to multiply something by three. For example, if you triple 2, you get 6 because 2 x 3 = 6.

• Used in a sentence: I think I will triple the tablespoons of sugar in the next batch of lemonade from 2 tablespoons to 6. 

Triple is also a noun that means a set of three. The word triplet is also commonly used in this sense.

• Used in a sentence: The shirts were packaged together in triples of red, white, and blue.

Where does triple come from?

The first records of triple come from around 1325. It ultimately comes from the Latin triplus.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to triple?

• triply (adverb)

What are some synonyms for triple?

• threefold

What are some words that share a root or word element with triple? 

• triplex
• triplet
• triplicate
• triple-digit
• triple figure
• triple threat

What are some words that often get used in discussing triple?

• multiplication
• baseball
• gambling
• price
• time

How is triple used in real life?

Triple is a very common word that describes something as being made of three things or being three times as great in number.

I’m really looking forward to tripling my income whilst dropping my stress level and doing work I enjoy/excel at 🧿

— Stretching & Dancing🌈 (@kika_ere13) January 25, 2021

Since I spilled water on my laptop, the keyboard has been messed up. Takes almost triple the time to type simple sentences

— LostNUnbound (@LostNUnbound) October 24, 2016

Is it just me or has the mosquito population tripled in Michigan in the last week

— Myles Kerner (@myles_kilo) September 16, 2018

 

 

Try using triple!​

True or False?

When you triple something, you multiply it by 3.