six
gb/sˈɪks/ us/sˈɪks/
A1
English
~ 1200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
quantity
1
The number six
The number that comes after five and before seven.
Usage pattern:
[number] six
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'six' with 'sixth', which is the ordinal form meaning position number six.
Synonyms
half a dozen (Less formal and often used in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
seven (The next whole number after six.)
Collocations
six people
|six times
|six days
|six years
|six points
Themes
mathematics
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She bought six apples at the market.
- The meeting will start at six o’clock sharp.
- Six students were chosen for the competition.
- He rolled a six on the dice.
- The cake was cut into six equal pieces.
Learner examples
- I have six books.
- There are six chairs in the room.
- We will meet at six.
- She has six cats.
- Six cars are in the parking lot.
Noun
informal
B1
event
2
Six runs in cricket
In cricket, when the ball is hit over the boundary without touching the ground, giving the team six points.
Usage pattern:
hit a six
Common mistake:
Learners unfamiliar with cricket may not realize 'six' here refers to runs, not the number itself.
Synonyms
maximum (Cricket jargon for the highest possible score from one hit.)
Collocations
hit a six
|score a six
Themes
sports
Examples
- He thrilled the crowd by hitting a huge six.
- That was his third six of the match.
- She won the game with a final six.
Learner examples
- He hit a six in the game.
- The player scored a six.
- A six made the team happy.
Grammar
Dictionary form
six
IPA
GB/sˈɪks/
US/sˈɪks/
Syllables & stress
six (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (six)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: six
- Plural: sixes
Word family
Expressions
at sixes and sevens
1/ˈæt sˈɪksɪz ˈænd sˈɛvənz/
idiom
In a state of confusion
To be in a state of disorder or confusion.
Examples
- After the sudden change, the office was at sixes and sevens.
- He was at sixes and sevens after moving to a new city.
six of one, half a dozen of the other
1/sˈɪks əv wˈʌn | hˈæf ə dˈʌzən əv ðə ˈʌðɚ/
idiom
Two options are equal
When two choices are really the same or very similar.
Examples
- We could take the bus or the train—it's six of one, half a dozen of the other.
- Choosing tea or coffee for me is six of one, half a dozen of the other.