sixty-three: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumNeutral. Used across all registers from formal to informal, though specific numeric contexts dictate formality.
Quick answer
What does “sixty-three” mean?
The number following sixty-two and preceding sixty-four.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The number following sixty-two and preceding sixty-four; 63.
Often used to denote a specific quantity, age, or identifier (e.g., house number, bus route). In some contexts, it can imply being just beyond a perceived midpoint or threshold.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences. Potential minor variation in the clarity of articulation in connected speech.
Connotations
Neutral numeric value. In cricket, the score of 63 is sometimes noted as it is 7x9.
Frequency
Equal frequency in both dialects, entirely context-dependent.
Grammar
How to Use “sixty-three” in a Sentence
[Number] of [plural noun] (sixty-three of the participants)[Verb] at [Number] (retired at sixty-three)[Number] [plural noun] (sixty-three employees)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sixty-three” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- A sixty-three-day journey requires meticulous planning.
- He received a sixty-three-page report.
American English
- A sixty-three mile detour added to our trip.
- She signed a sixty-three-month lease.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports, data, and statistics (e.g., 'sixty-three units sold').
Academic
Used in research data, page references, and quantitative findings.
Everyday
Used for age, quantities, prices, and identifiers (e.g., 'I live at number sixty-three').
Technical
Used as a precise value in STEM fields, computing (e.g., ASCII code 63 for '?'), and specifications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sixty-three”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sixty-three”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sixty-three”
- Hyphenation: It should be hyphenated when used as a compound adjective before a noun (e.g., 'a sixty-three-page document'). Incorrect: 'sixty three page document'.
- Pronunciation: Avoid merging into 'sixtythree' or stressing only the first syllable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is hyphenated when it functions as a compound adjective preceding a noun (e.g., 'a sixty-three-minute wait'). When used as a simple number or after a noun, it is not hyphenated (e.g., 'the number sixty-three', 'she is sixty-three').
The Roman numeral for sixty-three is LXIII (L = 50, X = 10, III = 3).
In fluent speech, there is often a slight /t/ glide or a glottal stop between the /iː/ of '-ty' and the /θ/ of 'three', especially in British English. The primary stress typically falls on 'three'.
Yes, it can function as a noun, often referring to the number itself or a group of sixty-three items (e.g., 'Sixty-three is a semiprime number', 'They marched in a group of sixty-three').
The number following sixty-two and preceding sixty-four.
Sixty-three is usually neutral. used across all registers from formal to informal, though specific numeric contexts dictate formality. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable. The number itself does not feature in common idioms.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a clock: the minute hand on the '60' (sixty) and the hour hand pointing to the '3' (three) – together they show 'sixty-three'.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS VERTICAL POSITION (e.g., 'The temperature rose to sixty-three degrees'). TIME IS MOTION PAST A LANDMARK (e.g., 'We're now at page sixty-three').
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following sentences is 'sixty-three' used correctly as a compound adjective?