eight

1.numberA1

Definition

the number that comes after seven and before nine, shown by the symbol 8; used when counting or measuring how many of something there are.

Example

There are eight chairs around the dining table in Anong's house.

eight + plural count noun for quantity

The night-shift nurse said she would work for eight hours straight.

eight + hours/days/years for duration

Common collocations

eight people
eight hours
eight days
eight years
eight times

Grammar Patterns

eight + [plural countable noun]

eight + of + [determiner] + [plural noun]

Usage Note

Used before a plural countable noun to specify exactly how many items or people there are. Cannot be used with uncountable nouns — for example, eight water is incorrect; you must say eight glasses of water.

Common Mistakes

My sister is eight years olds.

My sister is eight years old.

'years old' stays singular after a number.

There is eight students in the class.

There are eight students in the class.

'eight' takes a plural verb.

1.nounA1

Definition

the name of the number 8, used as a subject or object in a sentence when talking about the number itself rather than a quantity of something.

Example

In Tamar's classroom, the number eight was written on a card above the blackboard.

the number eight — noun phrase referring to the numeral

Eight is the number that comes right after seven on the counting chart.

Common collocations

the number eight
figure eight
an eight
lucky eight

Synonyms

figure eight
Specifically refers to the shape of the written numeral 8, rather than the number value itself.

Grammar Patterns

the number eight

an eight

eights [plural]

Usage Note

Treated as a singular countable noun. Takes 'a' or 'an' when referring to the written symbol. The plural form 'eights' is used when talking about multiple instances of the digit (e.g., 'The password contains three eights.').

Common Mistakes

I need eight of sugar.

I need eight spoonfuls of sugar.

'eight' cannot directly modify an uncountable noun.

Eight are a lucky number.

Eight is a lucky number.

'eight' as the name of a number takes a singular verb.

2.nounB1

Definition

the person or thing that is in the eighth position of a list, order, or sequence.

Example

Caio was number eight in the queue at the bakery, so he waited about ten minutes.

number eight — position in a queue/order

In the catalogue, item eight is the wooden bookshelf that Maja wants to order.

Common collocations

number eight
page eight
item eight
channel eight
platform eight

Synonyms

eighth
More common for general position (e.g., 'the eighth person in line'); 'eight' is mainly used with 'number' or in labelling.

Grammar Patterns

number eight

item eight

eight in + [noun phrase]

Usage Note

Often used with 'number' to form 'number eight' as a compound label. In everyday English, 'the eighth' is more common than 'the eight' when referring to position — this sense mainly appears in labelling contexts (page numbers, catalogue items, team jersey numbers).

Common Mistakes

She finished eight in the race.

She finished eighth in the race.

'eighth' (ordinal) is used for finishing position, not 'eight' (cardinal).

Please turn to eight page.

Please turn to page eight.

The noun comes before the number in this pattern.

3.nounB2

Definition

a playing card with eight symbols on its face; also, a set or group made up of eight people or things.

Example

Arjun played the eight of hearts and won the trick in the card game.

eight of [suit] — playing card terminology

The jazz band was an eight, with four brass players and four musicians playing rhythm instruments.

Common collocations

eight of hearts
eight of diamonds
eight of spades
eight of clubs
an eight

Synonyms

octet
More formal; used in music and science contexts for a group of eight.

Grammar Patterns

an eight of + [suit/type]

the eight + [of something]

Usage Note

In card games, 'an eight' means a playing card with eight pips. In team or group contexts, 'an eight' describes any collection of eight members. This sense is less common than the basic number meaning and appears mostly in specific domains.

4.nounC1

Definition

a narrow racing boat designed for eight rowers, each using one oar, together with a coxswain; or the team of people who row such a boat.

Example

The Cambridge eight trained every morning on the River Cam before the summer race.

[team] + eight — the crew as a collective

Oxford's eight crossed the finish line two lengths ahead of their rivals.

Common collocations

the Cambridge eight
the Oxford eight
the university eight
the women's eight
the men's eight

Grammar Patterns

the + [team/university] + eight

an eight + [verb in singular]

Usage Note

Belongs to the specialised vocabulary of competitive rowing. The word refers to both the physical boat and the group of people rowing it. 'Eight' in this sense is often capitalised when part of a team name (e.g., 'the Oxford Eight').

5.nounC1

Definition

a car engine that has eight cylinders arranged in a V shape; also, an automobile equipped with such an engine.

Example

The vintage eight rumbled loudly as Sven started the engine in the garage.

vintage eight — older car with eight-cylinder engine

Devika preferred driving an eight because the extra power made highway driving feel smoother.

Common collocations

a V8
an old eight
the classic eight
eight-cylinder engine

Synonyms

V8
The standard modern term for an eight-cylinder engine; 'an eight' sounds old-fashioned.

Grammar Patterns

an eight + [verb]

the old eight

Usage Note

Chiefly informal and somewhat dated. In modern automotive contexts, 'V8' is far more common than 'an eight'. This sense is rarely used by younger speakers and is mostly encountered in classic-car discussions.

Word family

eighth
adjectiveA2
eighth
nounB1
eighteen
numberA2
eighteenth
adjectiveB1
eighty
numberA2
eightieth
adjectiveB1
eighthly
adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: number/1

These four words are easily confused by learners because they share the same root spelling but differ in meaning and use. Eight (基本數詞) is a cardinal number: it tells you how many (e.g., 'eight books'). Eighth (序數) is an ordinal: it tells you position in a sequence (e.g., 'the eighth floor'). Eighteen and eighty are higher numbers that add the suffixes '-teen' and '-ty' — learners often mix up which suffix means which. Eighteen (18) is the number after seventeen; eighty (80) is eight times ten. A good way to remember: 'teen' sounds like 'ten' — eighteen is close to ten (18), while 'ty' sounds like 'tie' — eighty is a bundle of tens (80). Practice example: 'There are eighteen students in the class, and the eighth student in the third row is called Andrew.'

eight ↗eighth ↗eighteen ↗eighty ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

eight o'clock
figure eight
number eight
page eight
the G8
eight of something

Phrases

at eight
by eights
in eights
eight in total
eight out of ten

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Eight comes from Old English 'eahta', which can be traced back to Proto-Germanic '*ahtōu' and further to the Proto-Indo-European root '*oḱtṓw'. This ancient root appears in many languages: Latin 'octo' (source of 'octopus', 'October', 'octagon'), Greek 'oktṓ', and Sanskrit 'aṣṭá'. The fact that so many languages share this root shows that 'eight' has been a basic number word for thousands of years.

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eight

eight — number

1. the number that comes after seven and before nine, shown by the symbol 8; used w

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

eight — noun

1. the name of the number 8, used as a subject or object in a sentence when talking

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. the person or thing that is in the eighth position of a list, order, or sequence

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. a playing card with eight symbols on its face; also, a set or group made up of e

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

4. a narrow racing boat designed for eight rowers, each using one oar, together wit

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

5. a car engine that has eight cylinders arranged in a V shape; also, an automobile

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

Etymology

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