ten

noun

ˈten How to pronounce ten (audio)
plural tens
Synonyms of tennext
1
: a number that is one more than nine see Table of Numbers
2
: the 10th in a set or series
wears a ten
3
: something having 10 units or members
4
: a 10-dollar bill
5
: one deserving the highest rating
specifically : an exceptionally attractive person
ten adjective
ten pronoun, plural in construction
see also:
hang ten take ten

Synonyms of ten

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Examples of ten in a Sentence

“What time is it” “It's ten.” promised me that she would fix me up with a ten
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While spoken language might benefit us in myriad ways, no single activity requires it, let alone explains what triggered its ongoing evolution over tens to hundreds of thousands of years. — Mike McRae 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026 Sea Hunter is powered by two mtu 12V 2000 engines and has accumulated tens of thousands of operational hours since its christening in 2016. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026 That triggered tens of billons of dollars in compensation claims. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026 With that level of viral videos, a small media organization can make tens or even hundreds of thousands a month. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ten

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, going back to Old English tīen (West Saxon), tēn, going back to Germanic *tehun (whence also Old Frisian tiān, tiēn "ten," Old Saxon tehan, Old High German zehan, Old Norse tíu, Gothic taihun), going back to Indo-European *deḱm̥, whence also Old Irish deich "ten," Welsh deg, Latin decem, Old Church Slavic desętĭ, Lithuanian dẽšimt, Albanian dhjetë, Greek déka, Armenian tasn, Tocharian A śäk, Tocharian B śak, Avestan dasa, Sanskrit daśa

Note: The Slavic, Baltic, and perhaps Albanian forms are derived from the ordinal base *deḱm̥-t-.

First Known Use

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

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

Phrases Containing ten

Rhymes for ten

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Browse Nearby Words

Temuco
ten
Ten'a
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Cite this Entry

“Ten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ten. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ten

noun
ˈten How to pronounce ten (audio)
1
: a number that is one more than nine see number
2
: the tenth in a set or series
the ten of hearts
3
: something having ten units or members
4
: a 10-dollar bill
ten adjective or pronoun

Medical Definition

TEN

abbreviation
toxic epidermal necrolysis
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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