3rd
3rd — adjective
1. happening or coming after two others in a sequence or arrangement — for example,
happening or coming after two others in a sequence or arrangement — for example, the 3rd floor of a building, or the 3rd day of a week.
Their hotel room is on the 3rd floor, with a view of the park.
the 3rd + floor — ordinal with building levels
Amara's birthday falls on the 3rd of November this year.
the 3rd of + month — date expression
Emma finished the race in 3rd place among forty runners.
The 3rd chapter of the novel introduces the main conflict.
Omar was the 3rd person to arrive at the meeting this morning.
the 3rd person/thing + infinitive — ordinal with clause
- 3rd day
- 3rd floor
- 3rd place
- 3rd chapter
- 3rd year
- 3rd
the numeral form, used in addresses, dates, and lists for quick reading
Grammar Patterns
the 3rd + noun
Usage Note
Common in addresses, dates, and lists of ordered items. When writing the date, British English uses '3rd November' while American English uses 'November 3rd'.
Common Mistakes
2. having a level of importance, authority, or quality that is one step below secon
having a level of importance, authority, or quality that is one step below second — for example, the 3rd most senior officer in an organization, or a film ranked 3rd best of the year.
The vice president is the 3rd highest-ranking official in the company.
the 3rd + superlative adjective — 3rd highest/largest/best
At age twenty-two, Mateo became the 3rd youngest player ever to join the national team.
This university is ranked the 3rd best for engineering in the country.
Kwame is the 3rd in command of the entire rescue operation.
3rd in command / 3rd in line — fixed expressions for hierarchy
The 3rd largest city in the region has a population of about two million.
- 3rd largest
- 3rd highest
- 3rd best
- 3rd in command
- 3rd most senior
Grammar Patterns
the 3rd + noun + in/of/below + group
Usage Note
Often paired with superlative adjectives (3rd largest, 3rd highest, 3rd best) or with fixed hierarchy expressions (3rd in command, 3rd in line).
Common Mistakes
3. describing the forward gear of a vehicle that delivers more speed than the secon
describing the forward gear of a vehicle that delivers more speed than the second gear — for example, engaging 3rd gear when a car reaches about thirty kilometres per hour.
Ananya shifted into 3rd gear as the car reached the main road.
The truck struggled to maintain speed in 3rd gear on the steep hill.
in 3rd gear — prepositional phrase for gear state
Learning to use the 3rd gear smoothly is an important driving skill.
Felix skipped 3rd gear entirely and went straight from second to fourth.
skip 3rd gear / go from X to Y — describing gear changes
- 3rd gear
- into 3rd
- in 3rd gear
- shift to 3rd
Grammar Patterns
3rd gear
Usage Note
Used only for vehicles with manual transmissions. In automatic cars, the gearbox selects gears automatically, so 3rd is not referred to directly by the driver in everyday conversation.
4. equal to one of three exactly equal parts of something — for example, a 3rd shar
equal to one of three exactly equal parts of something — for example, a 3rd share of the profits, meaning each person gets the same amount as the other two.
Each of the three partners received a 3rd share of the business profits.
a 3rd share — fixed expression for equal division among three
The recipe asks for a 3rd cup of sugar and two cups of flour.
About a 3rd portion of the garden was set aside for growing vegetables.
The children split the cake into three equal pieces, each taking a 3rd piece.
- a 3rd share
- a 3rd portion
- a 3rd cup
- a 3rd of
- third
the word form, more common than the numeral in speech and informal writing
Grammar Patterns
a 3rd + noun
one 3rd + noun
Usage Note
The word 'third' (not '3rd') is more commonly used for fractions in everyday language ('a third of the cake'). The numeral form '3rd' appears more in technical or written contexts like recipes and legal documents.
Common Mistakes
5. occurring at the end position in each repeated group of three items — for exampl
occurring at the end position in each repeated group of three items — for example, a bus that runs every 3rd hour, meaning the service repeats every three hours.
The train to the airport leaves every 3rd hour, starting at six in the morning.
every 3rd + time noun — recurring pattern
In this parking lot, every 3rd space is reserved for electric vehicles.
The magazine subscription sends a free gift with every 3rd issue.
Lukas checks the oil level every 3rd time he fills up the car.
every 3rd time — common pattern with time-related nouns
- every 3rd hour
- every 3rd day
- every 3rd time
- every 3rd issue
Grammar Patterns
every 3rd + noun
3rd — noun
1. the person, thing, or position that is number three in a group or sequence — for
the person, thing, or position that is number three in a group or sequence — for example, being the 3rd to speak at a meeting, or the 3rd of the month.
Yuto was the 3rd to cross the finish line in the school relay race.
the 3rd to + verb — ordinal followed by infinitive
The office closes early on the 3rd of every month for staff training.
the 3rd of + month — date pattern
Ingrid picked the 3rd from the left because the pattern matched her sofa.
The committee marked the 3rd on the list as the most suitable candidate for the job.
The 3rd of September is the first day of classes at most schools here.
- the 3rd of
- finish 3rd
- come 3rd
- ranked 3rd
Grammar Patterns
the 3rd
finish 3rd
Usage Note
When referring to dates, use 'the 3rd of November' (British) or 'November 3rd' (American). In competitions, 'finish 3rd' or 'come 3rd' does not take an article.
Common Mistakes
2. a person or thing that holds the position just after the second in importance, a
a person or thing that holds the position just after the second in importance, authority, or quality — for example, the 3rd in line for the throne, or a product ranked 3rd in sales.
The finance director is the 3rd in the company's chain of command.
the 3rd in + hierarchy expression
Deepak's novel was voted the 3rd most popular book at the library this year.
Layla was promoted to 3rd in the regional sales rankings after only six months.
The prince is currently the 3rd in line for the crown after his father and brother.
3rd in line for + position — fixed hierarchy expression
This smartphone model ranks 3rd in customer satisfaction surveys across Asia.
- 3rd in line
- 3rd in command
- 3rd in rank
- ranked 3rd
Grammar Patterns
the 3rd in + group
3. one of three equal parts that together make up a whole amount or thing — for exa
one of three equal parts that together make up a whole amount or thing — for example, a 3rd of the students, or a 3rd of the available budget.
A 3rd of the employees voted to accept the new contract agreement.
a 3rd of + plural noun — fraction of a group
Sofia spends roughly a 3rd of her monthly salary on rent and utilities.
Nearly a 3rd of the island's land was turned into a national park.
The recipe calls for one 3rd of a cup of olive oil and two cups of flour.
one 3rd of a + container noun — cooking measure
About a 3rd of the villagers lost their homes in the terrible flood.
- a 3rd of
- one 3rd
- about a 3rd
- nearly a 3rd
- roughly a 3rd
- third
more common in spoken English; identical meaning
Grammar Patterns
a 3rd of + noun
one 3rd
Usage Note
In everyday speech, 'a third' is far more common than 'a 3rd'. The numeral form appears more in recipes, statistics, and formal writing. This sense is often used after 'about', 'roughly', or 'nearly' for approximate amounts.
Common Mistakes
4. the third of the four bases that a baseball player must touch in order to score
the third of the four bases that a baseball player must touch in order to score a run, located between second base and home plate — for example, a runner standing safely on 3rd.
The runner on 3rd sprinted toward home plate when the batter hit the ball.
on 3rd / at 3rd — position of a runner
Valentina has played 3rd for the team since her first year in college.
play 3rd — act as third baseman
The shortstop threw the ball to 3rd in time to tag the approaching runner.
throw to 3rd — direction of a throw
With two players already out, the batter hit a fast ground ball toward 3rd.
- on 3rd
- at 3rd
- to 3rd
- play 3rd
- stand on 3rd
- third base
the full term for the position; '3rd' is the abbreviation used in scorekeeping and fast speech
Grammar Patterns
at 3rd
to 3rd
play 3rd
Usage Note
In baseball contexts, 'third' is usually shortened to '3rd' in scorekeeping and casual conversation. 'Play 3rd' means playing the defensive position of third baseman. 'At 3rd' means the base itself.
5. the forward gear in a vehicle that provides a speed range higher than second gea
the forward gear in a vehicle that provides a speed range higher than second gear and lower than fourth — for example, shifting into 3rd when driving at about 40 kilometres per hour on a city street.
Elena shifted into 3rd as she accelerated onto the highway entrance ramp.
shift into 3rd — common driving instruction
The car makes a strange noise when it is running in 3rd gear at low speed.
Learning to move smoothly from 2nd into 3rd takes most drivers a few weeks.
from 2nd into 3rd — describing gear progression
When the road flattened out, Hassan switched from 3rd to 4th gear easily.
- in 3rd
- into 3rd
- shift to 3rd
- change to 3rd
- 3rd gear
Grammar Patterns
in 3rd
into 3rd
shift to 3rd
Usage Note
In everyday conversation, drivers say 'in third' or 'in 3rd' without repeating 'gear'. The phrase 'drop into 3rd' means shifting down from a higher gear, often for overtaking or climbing.
6. the distance in pitch between two notes that are separated by three steps of a m
the distance in pitch between two notes that are separated by three steps of a musical scale, measured as either a major or minor interval — for example, the interval from C up to E is a major 3rd, and from C up to E-flat is a minor 3rd.
The interval from C up to E is a major 3rd, which sounds bright and happy.
major 3rd / minor 3rd — quality labels for the interval
The two violinists practised playing in parallel 3rds until their intonation was perfect.
parallel 3rds — two parts moving together at the interval
Chopin's piece features a haunting melody built mostly on minor 3rds.
Singers often warm up by sliding between notes a 3rd apart to improve their ear.
a 3rd apart — describing the pitch difference
- major 3rd
- minor 3rd
- parallel 3rds
- a 3rd apart
- interval of a 3rd
Grammar Patterns
a 3rd
major/minor 3rd
Usage Note
Musicians distinguish between a major 3rd (four semitones) and a minor 3rd (three semitones). Understanding 3rds is essential for building basic chords: a major chord uses a major 3rd and a minor chord uses a minor 3rd.
7. a specific note that sits three scale steps above the root of a chord or scale,
a specific note that sits three scale steps above the root of a chord or scale, determining whether the chord sounds major or minor — for example, the note E is the 3rd of a C major chord.
In a C major chord, the note E is the 3rd and gives the chord its bright quality.
the 3rd of + chord name — identifying a chord tone
The piano teacher showed Haruki how to find the 3rd of any chord on the keyboard.
If you lower the 3rd of a major chord by a semitone, the chord becomes minor.
lower/raise the 3rd — altering the chord quality
Chidi practised identifying the 3rd of each chord by listening to recordings.
- the 3rd of
- lower the 3rd
- raise the 3rd
- the 3rd of the chord
Grammar Patterns
the 3rd of + chord/scale
Usage Note
This sense is distinct from the interval sense (noun/6): the interval is the distance between two notes, while this sense refers to the actual note that sits at that distance from the root. Music theory students learn to identify the 3rd as the note that defines major versus minor quality.
8. the combination of two notes spaced three scale steps apart, played or sung at t
the combination of two notes spaced three scale steps apart, played or sung at the same time to create a harmonious sound — for example, two voices singing together in 3rds throughout a chorus.
The choir sang the final verse in sweet, gentle 3rds that filled the hall.
sing/play in 3rds — performing with parallel harmony
The guitar and violin harmonised in parallel 3rds during the slow section.
Traditional folk music in many cultures uses 3rds as the main type of harmony.
Ananya and Yuna practised singing in 3rds until their voices blended perfectly.
singing in 3rds — vocal harmony technique
- in 3rds
- parallel 3rds
- sing in 3rds
- play in 3rds
Grammar Patterns
in 3rds
sing/play in 3rds
Usage Note
Singing or playing 'in 3rds' is one of the simplest and most common harmony techniques. Two people sing the same melody but one starts on a note a 3rd above. This is different from the '3rd' as an isolated interval (sense 6).
9. products that are sold at a reduced price because their quality is lower than th
products that are sold at a reduced price because their quality is lower than the standard for second-grade items, often containing noticeable defects — for example, factory 3rds sold in discount bins.
The factory sells its 3rds at a discount store next to the main warehouse.
factory 3rds / manufacturer's 3rds — commercial term for low-grade goods
These ceramic bowls are 3rds because each one has a small crack in the glaze.
Clothing 3rds are labelled with a small tear in the tag so they cannot be sold at full price.
The outlet store specialises in 3rds from well-known kitchenware brands.
- factory 3rds
- manufacturer's 3rds
- sell as 3rds
- clothing 3rds
- seconds
similar concept but one grade above 3rds; 'seconds' have minor flaws while '3rds' have more noticeable defects
Grammar Patterns
3rds
Usage Note
This grading system ranks goods as 'firsts' (perfect), 'seconds' (minor flaws), and '3rds' (noticeable defects). The term is used mainly in manufacturing, textiles, and ceramics. Not commonly encountered by general consumers outside outlet stores.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
'3rd' (or its spelled-out form 'third') is the ordinary ordinal number used in everyday contexts: dates, floors, positions in a line, and race results. 'Third' is the standard written and spoken form in almost all situations, while '3rd' appears mainly in addresses, lists, and note-taking where brevity matters — for example, 'Please turn to page 3' or 'He lives on 3rd Avenue.' Neither word carries a formal or technical register. 'Tertiary,' by contrast, means 'third in order, level, or rank' but belongs to formal, academic, or technical domains — you would say 'tertiary education' (education beyond high school) or 'tertiary colours' (colours made by mixing two primary colours), not '3rd education' or '3rd colours.' In everyday speech, 'third' covers nearly all uses shown in the senses above; 'tertiary' should be reserved for specialised classifications where a formal, systematic label is expected.
Common collocations
Nouns
- 3rd place
- 3rd gear
- 3rd base
- 3rd position
- 3rd floor
Phrases
- the 3rd of
- 3rd in line
- every 3rd
- a 3rd of
- in 3rds
Prepositions
- in 3rd
- on the 3rd
- at 3rd
- to 3rd
- of the 3rd
Etymology
The word 'third' traces back through Old English 'þridda' to the Proto-Germanic '*þridjô', which developed from the same ancient root as the number 'three'. The numeral form '3rd' follows the English convention of using the last two letters of the ordinal suffix — 'd' from 'third' — when writing the ordinal as a digit. This same pattern applies to '1st' (first), '2nd' (second), and '4th' (fourth onwards). The use of '3rd' in dates, addresses, and notes became widespread with the rise of typewriting and continues in digital formats for quick reading.