# third

/ˈθɝd/ (US) · /θˈɜːd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. position in a sequence

numeral · CEFR A1

coming after the second person or thing.

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

- This is the third time I have asked you to clean your room.
- The third candidate presented a significantly more robust strategy for market expansion than the previous two applicants.

### 2. a fraction

noun · CEFR A2

one of three equal parts of something.

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

- He ate a third of the pizza and left the rest for his brother.
- The survey indicates that nearly a third of the population remains undecided about the proposed constitutional changes.

### 3. vehicle gear

noun · CEFR B1

the third gear in a car or bicycle.

For teachers: the third gear in a transmission system, providing a balance of torque and speed.

- You should shift into third gear once you reach thirty miles per hour.
- The driver struggled to engage third as the car laboured up the steep incline, eventually forcing a downshift back to second.

### 4. musical interval

noun · CEFR B2

the distance between the first and third notes in a scale.

For teachers: an interval spanning three scale degrees, which determines the major or minor quality of a chord.

- The singer struggled to hit the major third in the opening chorus.
- The composer utilised a series of parallel thirds to create a folk-like texture in the woodwind section.

### 5. university grade

noun · CEFR C1 · British English

the lowest passing grade for a university degree in the UK.

For teachers: a third-class honours degree, representing the lowest level of passing honours in the British university system.

- He was disappointed to graduate with a third after three years of study.
- While a third may limit immediate entry into prestigious graduate schemes, many professionals find that experience eventually outweighs their initial degree classification.

### 6. to support a motion

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Humorous

to be the third person to agree with a formal idea in a meeting.

For teachers: to support a motion or proposal after it has already been moved and seconded.

- I'll third that suggestion; let's go get some lunch.
- After the motion was seconded by the treasurer, the chairman asked if anyone wished to third the proposal before moving to a vote.

Usage: Usually used in formal committee settings or as a lighthearted way to show strong agreement.

## Examples

- He finished in third place.
- This is the third time this week that the train has been late for my morning commute.
- The third chapter provides a detailed analysis of the historical data, bridging the gap between the initial theory and the final results presented later in the volume.

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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.