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Meaning & use

triple

verb, adjective, noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈtrɪpl/
US/ˈtrɪpl/

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive or intransitive

    To become three times as large or numerous, or to make something three times as large.

    Grammar: Can take an object: triple the recipe. Can also be used without an object: Sales tripled.

    Patterns

    • triple something
    • something triples
    • triple in size
    • triple from something to something

    The company tripled its profits in two years.

    The population of the town tripled after the factory opened.

    We tripled the recipe to feed everyone at the party.

  2. adjectivebefore a noun

    Having three parts or involving three people or things.

    Grammar: Used before a noun: a triple room, a triple jump.

    Patterns

    • a triple room
    • a triple play
    • a triple jump

    We booked a triple room for the three of us.

    She won the triple jump at the track meet.

    The team turned a rare triple play in the fifth inning.

  3. nouncountablesport

    In baseball, a hit that lets the batter reach third base safely.

    Grammar: Countable: he hit a triple; two triples.

    Patterns

    • hit a triple
    • a triple to left field

    He hit a triple in the bottom of the ninth.

    The runner scored from first on a triple to right field.

Word forms

third person singulartriples
past tensetripled
past participletripled
-ing formtripling
pluraltriples

Common combinations

triple the number
They tripled the number of computers in the lab.
triple in size
The city has tripled in size since 1990.
a triple room
The hotel offers a triple room with three single beds.
triple jump
She set a new school record in the triple jump.

Synonyms and how they differ

threefold
Threefold is an adjective or adverb meaning three times as much; triple is more common as a verb and before nouns.
treble
Treble is mainly British and means the same as triple, especially in music or when talking about amounts.

Word family

triple noun
A group of three, or a hit in baseball.
triplet noun
One of three children born at the same time.
triply adverb
In three ways or three times.

Commonly confused: triple or third?

triple vs third

Third means coming after the second; triple means three times as much or having three parts. A 'third jump' is a different jump; a 'triple jump' is one event with three parts.

Practice

The company's profits ______ from $1 million to $3 million last year.

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