Word
thrice
US/ˈθɹaɪs/
UK/θɹˈaɪs/
Adverb of frequency
Definition
adv. three times. You use this when you want to say something happened or was done three times in a row.
adv. three times in succession or on three separate occasions. Often used in literary or formal contexts, or for rhythmic emphasis in speech.
Examples
“I knocked thrice on the wooden door.”
“The bell chimed thrice to signal the beginning of the evening ceremony.”
“The protagonist was warned thrice by the oracle, yet he chose to ignore the prophecy and continue his journey toward the mountains.”
Examples
simple
“I knocked thrice on the wooden door.”
contextual
“The bell chimed thrice to signal the beginning of the evening ceremony.”
complex
“The protagonist was warned thrice by the oracle, yet he chose to ignore the prophecy and continue his journey toward the mountains.”
Usage
Typically placed after the verb or at the end of the clause; considered formal or slightly archaic in modern conversation.
Pitfall
I have been there for thrice
I have been there thrice
As an adverb of frequency, it does not require a preposition like 'for' or 'at'.
Etymology
PIE word *tréyes From Middle English thrice, thries (“three times, thrice; a third time; repeated three times”), from earlier thrī, thrīe (“three times, thrice; a third time”) (from Old English þriwa, þreowa) + -es (suffix forming adverbs of time, place, and manner) (from Old English -es (suffix forming adverbs)). The word is cognate with Old Frisian thria ("thrice"; > Saterland Frisian träie (“thrice”)), Middle Low German drîes (“thrice”), Middle High German drīes, drīs (“thrice”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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