eight

"Eight" is the number that comes after seven and before nine. We use it when we count people, things, days, points, or steps: eight apples, eight students, eight o'clock. It can name the number itself, the written symbol 8, or a group of that size. You also see related forms like eighth, which is used for order in a series, as in the eighth page or her eighth birthday. In daily life, this word is simple and common, and it appears anywhere exact counting matters.

"Eight" is the cardinal number after seven and before nine. At its core, it tells us how many there are: eight books on a shelf, eight miles to go, eight players on a team in a drill. It can refer to the idea of the number, the numeral 8, or anything grouped in that amount. In speech and writing, it often shows up in dates, times, scores, ages, addresses, prices, and measurements.

The related form eighth is used for position or fraction. We say the eighth person in line when talking about order, and one eighth when talking about part of a whole. Because of that, the word appears in many ordinary settings, from school math to cooking, sports, music, and schedules. You may read about an eighth inning, an eighth note, or an eighth of a cup.

The word also appears in a few fixed expressions and cultural references. For example, behind the eight ball means being in a difficult situation. In some cultures, the number is seen as lucky, while in other contexts it is simply a practical counting word. Most of the time, though, the meaning is direct and clear: it names the amount 8 or the place that comes after seventh.