# sixth

/ˈsɪksθ/ (US) · /sˈɪksθ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sixth
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. position in a series

numeral · CEFR A2

coming after the fifth thing in a list or sequence.

For teachers: the ordinal number matching the cardinal number six in a sequence.

- This is the sixth time I have tried to call the office today.
- The sixth chapter of the report provides a detailed analysis of the fiscal year's unexpected losses.

### 2. a fraction

noun · CEFR B1

one of six equal parts of a whole thing.

For teachers: one of six equal parts into which a whole is or may be divided.

- He ate a sixth of the pizza before realizing it was for the whole group.
- The inheritance was divided equally, with each sibling receiving exactly one sixth of the total estate.

### 3. music interval

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the distance between one musical note and the note five steps above it.

For teachers: the musical interval between one note and another five scale degrees above it.

- The melody moves up a major sixth in the very first bar.
- The composer frequently employed minor sixths to create a sense of melancholy throughout the second movement.

Usage: Often specified as 'major' or 'minor' depending on the number of semitones.

### 4. to divide by six

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal · Technical

to divide a number or an amount by six.

For teachers: to divide a value by six; often used when adjusting fractions or denominators.

- If you sixth the original amount, you get a much smaller result.
- The mathematician demonstrated how to sixth the denominator to simplify the complex equation.

## Examples

- She finished in sixth place during the race.
- The office is located on the sixth floor of the building, just past the elevators.
- While the first five chapters establish the historical context, the sixth chapter introduces the primary argument regarding economic shifts in the late nineteenth century.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.