four
gb/fˈɔɹ/ us/fˈɔɹ/
A1
English
~ 600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
quantity
1
The number four
The number that comes after three and before five.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'four' with 'for' in writing because they sound the same but have different meanings and spellings.
Synonyms
quartet (Used mainly for groups of four people or things, especially in music or performance.)
Antonyms
three (The number immediately before four.)
|
five (The number immediately after four.)
Collocations
four years
|four people
|four times
|group of four
|four days
Themes
mathematics
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She bought four apples from the market.
- The table seats four comfortably.
- Four students were chosen for the project.
- He finished the race in fourth place, just after the top three.
- They have lived here for four years.
Learner examples
- I have four books.
- There are four cats in the garden.
- She is four years old.
- We need four chairs.
- Four people are in the car.
Noun
A2
entity
2
Card with value four
A card in a deck that shows the number four or has four shapes on it.
Synonyms
four-spot (Informal term for a playing card showing four symbols.)
Antonyms
ace (A card with a value of one, representing the lowest or highest rank depending on the game.)
Collocations
four of hearts
|four of clubs
|draw a four
Themes
games
|recreation
|daily_life
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- He played the four of spades to win the trick.
- I drew a four of diamonds from the deck.
- The winning hand included two fours.
Learner examples
- I have the four of clubs.
- She put down a four of hearts.
- He picked up a four from the table.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Cricket score of four runs
In cricket, when the ball goes to the edge of the field after being hit, and the team gets four points.
Synonyms
boundary (Common cricket term for scoring either four or six runs by hitting to the field's edge.)
Collocations
hit a four
|score a four
|boundary four
Themes
sports
Examples
- He hit a brilliant four through the covers.
- They needed just one more four to win.
- The batsman scored three fours in his innings.
Learner examples
- He hit a four in cricket.
- The player scored a four.
- They got a four when the ball went to the edge.
Grammar
Dictionary form
four
IPA
GB/fˈɔɹ/
US/fˈɔɹ/
Syllables & stress
four (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (four)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: four
- Plural: fours
Word family
Forms
fours
noun
Related words
Advanced or less common
fourthly
adverb
quadruple
verb
Expressions
four corners of the earth
1/fˈɔɹ kˈɔɹnɚz əv ðə ˈɚθ/
idiom
literary
All parts of the world
Everywhere in the world; all countries and places.
Examples
- People came from the four corners of the earth to see the festival.
- This news spread to the four corners of the earth.
on all fours
1/ˈɔn ˈɔl fˈɔɹz/
idiom
With hands and knees on ground
On your hands and knees, like an animal walking.
Examples
- The baby moved across the floor on all fours.
- He searched for his keys on all fours under the table.
the big four
1/ðə bˈɪɡ fˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
Most important four entities
The four most important companies, people, or groups in an area or industry.
Examples
- The Big Four accounting firms dominate the market.
- Fans often debate who belongs in the Big Four bands of thrash metal.