WordGarden.iofive
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /fˈaɪv/
US
- /ˈfaɪv/
Meanings
Determiner
the cardinal number 5
Noun
the number or numeral 5
a banknote or bill worth five units of currency
Beyond the definition
"Five" is the number that comes after four and before six. It is one of the first number words people learn, and we use it in many simple, everyday ways. We talk about five fingers on a hand, the five senses, or five minutes of time. It also appears in common expressions like "high five" for a happy hand slap and "take five" for a short rest. Because of our hands, this number feels natural in counting, grouping, and measuring things in daily life.
The word "five" names the cardinal number after four and before six. At its core, it is used for counting: five books, five people, five days, or five dollars. It can describe an exact amount, a position in basic math, or a group made of that many parts. Because each hand usually has five fingers, the number is strongly tied to early counting and to the way people naturally sort and measure small amounts.
The word also lives comfortably in everyday English. We mention the five senses when talking about how we experience the world. A "high five" is a friendly sign of success or shared excitement. "Take five" means to pause for a short break, and "give me five minutes" asks for a little time. In other settings, the number helps label and describe things, as in a five-star hotel, a five-pointed star, or a group of five performers. Simple as it is, "five" is a basic and very common word for quantity, time, groups, signs, and everyday expressions.
Examples
- 1
Telling time
The meeting starts at five.
- 2
Age
Her son is five now.
- 3
Duration
We waited for five minutes, then left.
- 4
Group size
There were five of us in the car.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Ranking
She finished in the top five.
- 6
Seating capacity
This table seats five.
- 7
Hotel quality
They stayed in a five-star hotel.
- Phrasefive-star
of very high quality
- 8
Short break
Take five and come back when you're ready.
- Phrasetake five
take a short break
- 9
Celebration
He raised his hand for a high five.
- Phrasehigh five
a celebratory slap of raised hands
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- fivenounadjective