Fifth Meaning

UK /fɪfθ/
US /fɪfθ/
Word Definition
fifth meaning

Fifth Definition & Usage

adjective

Indicating the position in a sequence that is five places from the beginning.

Examples

  • "She finished in fifth place in the race."
  • "The fifth book in the series is my favorite."
  • "This is the fifth time I've visited Paris."
  • "They were the fifth team to enter the tournament."
  • "He came in fifth during the chess competition."
noun

The position in a sequence that is five from the beginning.

Examples

  • "He took the fifth in the tournament, but he was happy with his performance."
  • "The fifth of October is her birthday."
  • "They were the fifth to speak at the event."
  • "The fifth of five paintings in the gallery was the most impressive."
  • "The fifth on the list was completely unexpected."
fraction

The fraction represented by one part out of five equal parts.

Examples

  • "The pizza was divided into fifths, and everyone got a piece."
  • "We each got a fifth of the total donation."
  • "The students shared the pie into fifths to ensure equal portions."
  • "A fifth of the audience stood up to applaud."
  • "The company owns one fifth of the land in the region."

Cultural Context

The concept of 'fifth' is widely used in various contexts, from ordinal ranking in competitions, to fractions in mathematics and everyday life. In Western cultures, ranking systems (such as 'fifth place') are common in sports, academia, and other competitive fields. The number five is also associated with various symbolic meanings, including balance and harmony in numerology.

The Fifth Runner

Story

The Fifth Runner

It was a crisp morning as the runners lined up for the annual cross-country race. The five competitors had trained for months, and each hoped to cross the finish line first. Among them was Emma, who had always finished in the middle of the pack. This year, though, she had worked harder than ever and was determined to improve her time. As the race began, Emma surged ahead, passing one runner after another. But as the race continued, she found herself in a tight group of four, with only one more person ahead of her. Her legs were burning, and her breath came in short bursts, but she was focused. She reached the final stretch of the race and could see the finish line in the distance. The runners in front of her were all pushing hard, and Emma knew this would be her moment. With every ounce of energy, Emma sprinted toward the finish line. She crossed it just as the runner ahead of her stumbled. She had done it – she finished in fifth place, just behind the leader but ahead of the others. Her heart raced, not with disappointment, but with pride. Fifth place wasn't bad. In fact, for Emma, it was a victory. Later that day, Emma looked at the race results. She smiled as she saw her name next to the number five. It wasn't first place, but it was a personal best. In the following weeks, she would continue training, but she would always remember that day when she was the fifth runner, having given it her all.

The Fifth Runner