seventy-three: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1 (Numbers are fundamental vocabulary)Neutral - appropriate in all registers, from formal to informal.
Quick answer
What does “seventy-three” mean?
The cardinal number equivalent to the sum of seventy and three.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The cardinal number equivalent to the sum of seventy and three.
A numerical value representing 73 items. Also used as a noun phrase to refer to that number itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The spoken stress pattern ('seventy-three' vs. 'seventy-three') may vary slightly by individual speaker or regional accent, but this is not systematic. In writing, both use the same form.
Connotations
None specific to either variety.
Frequency
Equal frequency in both varieties, tied directly to the contexts where numbers are used.
Grammar
How to Use “seventy-three” in a Sentence
NUMERICAL QUANTIFIER (seventy-three [noun])PREDICATIVE ADJECTIVE (He is seventy-three.)NOUN PHRASE (Seventy-three is a prime number.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “seventy-three” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - cardinal numbers are not used as verbs.
American English
- N/A - cardinal numbers are not used as verbs.
adverb
British English
- N/A - cardinal numbers are not typically used as adverbs.
American English
- N/A - cardinal numbers are not typically used as adverbs.
adjective
British English
- She has seventy-three first editions in her collection.
- The journey took seventy-three hours.
American English
- He bought seventy-three acres of land.
- We need seventy-three signatures on the petition.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"Q3 revenue was seventy-three million euros."
Academic
"The sample size was seventy-three participants."
Everyday
"I think my grandma is seventy-three this year."
Technical
"The atomic number of tantalum is seventy-three."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “seventy-three”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “seventy-three”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “seventy-three”
- Pronouncing it as 'seventy-threety' (hybrid error).
- Writing it as '73th' instead of '73rd' when used ordinally (seventy-third).
- In speech, mis-stressing as 'SEVENty three' instead of the common 'SEVENty-THREE'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
You write it as 73.
Yes, 73 is a prime number (divisible only by 1 and 73).
Primary stress is usually on 'SEVEN' and secondary stress on 'THREE': SEVEN-ty-THREE.
'Seventy-three' (70+3) refers to a number in the 70s, while 'seventeen' (17) is in the teens. The stress pattern helps distinguish them: 'sevenTEEN' vs. 'SEVENty-THREE'.
The cardinal number equivalent to the sum of seventy and three.
Seventy-three is usually neutral - appropriate in all registers, from formal to informal. in register.
Seventy-three: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsev.ən.ti ˈθriː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsev.ən.t̬i ˈθriː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable for this number. Some numbers have idiomatic uses (e.g., 'at sixes and sevens'), but seventy-three does not.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'lucky seven' (7) and a 'treble' or 'triple' (3). Seventy-three is 7 followed by 3. It is also a prime number.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS VERTICALITY/AMOUNT (more is up): 'The temperature rose to seventy-three degrees.' TIME IS SPACE (a point on a line): 'See the chart on page seventy-three.'
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the correct ordinal form of 'seventy-three'?