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.
Over 7 million people were eligible to vote, and tens of thousands reportedly arrived from overseas. — Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026 In tens of thousands of instances, the main EFTA number will advance by one but the other Bates numbers advance by two or more. — Daniel Ruetenik, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 Most historians blame Mao's policies for tens of millions of deaths through famine and politically motivated persecution. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026 Of the tens of thousands of species that inhabit the region’s lush and astonishingly biodiverse forests today, a handful dominate Asheville’s vibrant foraging and culinary scene. — Tovar Cerulli, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 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

See All Rhymes for ten

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 30 Oct. 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
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