Meaning

A numerical value equal to 4; the number after three and before five; two plus two. This many dots (••••).

Definitions by Sense

1. A numerical value equal to 4; the number after three and before five; two plus two. This many dots (••••)
2. Describing a set or group with four elements.
3. (countable) The digit or figure 4; an occurrence thereof.
4. (countable) Anything measuring four units, as length.
5. Four o'clock.
6. A person who is four years old.
7. (cricket, countable) An event in which the batsmen run four times between the wickets or, more often, a batsman hits a ball which bounces on the ground before passing over a boundary, resulting in an award of 4 runs for the batting team. If the ball does not bounce before passing over the boundary, a six is awarded instead.
8. (basketball, countable) A power forward.

Example Sentences

There are four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Venters began to count them—one—two—three—four—on up to sixteen.

Redding’s study asked four psychologists with expertise in anxiety and depressive disorders to rate each self-help book on five criteria: […]

Do you have any more fours? I want to make this a little taller.

Letters to Sheffield are despatched every morning at six, and arrive every afternoon at ten minutes past four.

Frederick, I presume, at this late hour of four, may be snatching a morsel of dinner; […]

The larger ships picked up the low lying atoll on their radar about four in the morning at distances from 16 to 26 miles.

I'll take the threes, fours and fives and go to the playground.

Word Forms

• fower
• fours

Synonyms for four

Related Words

When Should You Use Four?

Use four when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

Practice This Word

Frequently Asked Questions