English

three

gb/θɹˈi/ us/θɹˈi/
A1 English
~ 400
Senses
0 senses
numeral A1 quantity
1

The number 3

The number that is one more than two.

Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'three' with 'third', which is the ordinal form.
Synonyms
3 (Numerical symbol representing the same quantity.)
Antonyms
two (The number immediately before three.) | four (The number immediately after three.)
Collocations
three years |three times |three people |three days
Themes
mathematics |daily life |education |core_vocabulary |science
Examples
  • She has three cats at home.
  • The meeting will start at three o’clock.
  • I need three more chairs for the party.
  • They have been married for three years.
  • We visited three different countries last summer.
Learner examples
  • I have three books.
  • We saw three dogs.
  • He is three years old.
  • She bought three apples.
  • They have three children.
Grammar
Dictionary form
three
IPA
GB/θɹˈi/
US/θɹˈi/
Syllables & stress
three (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (three)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: three
  • Plural: threes
Word family
Forms
threes noun
Core family
third ordinal numeral A1 thirteen numeral A1 thirty numeral A1
Related words
thirteenth ordinal numeral A2 thirtieth ordinal numeral thirdly adverb B2 triple adjective/verb B1 trio noun B2
Advanced or less common
threefold adjective/adverb thrice adverb B2
Expressions

in three days

1
/ˈɪn θɹˈi dˈeɪz/
fixed phrase

After a span of three days

Happening after three days from now.

Examples
  • We will finish the work in three days.
  • The package should arrive in three days.

three o’clock

1
/θɹˈi oʊklˈɑk/
fixed phrase

Time at 3:00

The time when the clock shows 3:00.

Examples
  • The train leaves at three o’clock.
  • Please be here by three o’clock sharp.

three times

1
/θɹˈi tˈaɪmz/
fixed phrase

Three occurrences or multiplication by three

Happening three times, or multiplied by three.

Examples
  • I have visited Paris three times.
  • This recipe makes three times the amount we need.

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