twenty

noun

twen·​ty ˈtwen-tē How to pronounce twenty (audio) ˈtwən- How to pronounce twenty (audio)
plural twenties
Synonyms of twentynext
1
: a number equal to two times 10 see Table of Numbers
2
twenties plural : the numbers 20 to 29
specifically : the years 20 to 29 in a lifetime or century
3
: a 20-dollar bill
twentieth
ˈtwen-tē-əth How to pronounce twenty (audio)
ˈtwən-
adjective or noun
twenty adjective
twenty pronoun, plural in construction

Examples of twenty in a Sentence

Tomorrow the temperature will be in the low twenties.
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.
The prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that governs impulse control and long-range judgment, is not fully developed until the mid-twenties. — Emily Stack, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026 Hollywood, Ending follows two people in their twenties who are starring in a movie together about Andy Warhol’s last year of life, featuring romance, trauma, survival and the concept of celebrity. — Elizabeth Wellington Rollins, PEOPLE, 23 Aug. 2026 The terrorist would probably be in their twenties or thirties. — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026 Rani, then in her early twenties, had an unusual upbringing and had weathered a difficult few years. — Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for twenty

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from twenty, adjective, from Old English twēntig, noun, group of 20, from twēn- (akin to Old English twā two) + -tig group of 10; akin to Old English tīen ten — more at two, ten

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of twenty was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing twenty

Rhymes for twenty

See All Rhymes for twenty

Browse Nearby Words

twentieth-century cut
twenty
twenty-eight
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Twenty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twenty. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

twenty

noun
twen·​ty ˈtwent-ē How to pronounce twenty (audio)
plural twenties
: a number equal to two times 10 see number
twenty adjective or pronoun

More from Merriam-Webster on twenty

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for twenty

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about twenty

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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