forty

noun

for·​ty ˈfȯr-tē How to pronounce forty (audio)
plural forties
1
: a number equal to four times 10 see Table of Numbers
2
forties plural : the numbers 40 to 49
specifically : the years 40 to 49 in a lifetime or century
3
: the third point scored by a side in a game of tennis
4
or 40 US, informal : a forty-ounce bottle or other container of an alcoholic beverage (such as beer or malt liquor)
Kelvin finished his forty in seven or eight long gulps. Tossed the bottle in the median carpeted with brown grass.Dave Byrne
… smoking weed and drinking 40s while her kids run loose.Jim Schutze
fortieth adjective or noun
forty adjective
forty pronoun, plural in construction
fortyish adjective

Examples of forty in a Sentence

The temperature outside is in the high forties. She is in her forties.
Recent Examples on the Web These were successful people in their forties and fifties who were making large sums of money. Emily Harnett, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024 McAlmont, who went back to school in his forties for a PhD in higher education from the University of Pennsylvania, steers the conversation to author Patrick Lencioni’s five dysfunctions of a team. Bynick Rockel, Fortune, 10 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for forty 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fourty, adjective, from Old English fēowertig, from fēowertig group of 40, from fēower four + -tig group of 10; akin to Old English tīen ten

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of forty was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near forty

Cite this Entry

“Forty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forty. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

forty

noun
for·​ty ˈfȯrt-ē How to pronounce forty (audio)
plural forties
: a number equal to four times 10 see number
fortieth adjective or noun
forty adjective or pronoun
fortyish adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on forty

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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