twenty

twenty — number

1. the written symbol or spoken name for the number that comes after nineteen and b

1.numberA1
Definition

the written symbol or spoken name for the number that comes after nineteen and before twenty-one; the numeral 20.

Example

Asher counted from one to twenty to check all the children were on the bus.

counting sequence: one to twenty

The number twenty bus arrives at the station every ten minutes.

identifier use: bus number / room number

Synonyms
  • score

    an older word for twenty, mainly used in historical or literary contexts

twenty — noun

Word family

  • twentieth
    adjectiveA2
  • twentieth
    nounA2
  • twentyish
    adjectiveC1
  • twentyfold
    adjectiveC1
  • twentyfold
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: number/1

The most common way to express the number 20 in modern English is simply 'twenty'. The word 'score' (meaning twenty) is much older and now appears mainly in historical contexts, set phrases like 'four score and seven years ago', or when counting large quantities ('a score of people'). 'Twice ten' is a descriptive phrase rather than a true synonym — it explains the mathematical composition of 20 but is rarely used in everyday speech. For learners, 'twenty' covers all ordinary uses; 'score' is useful for understanding classic literature and speeches but should not be used as a routine substitute for 'twenty'.

twenty ↗score ↗twice ten

Common collocations

Nouns

  • twenty-dollar bill
  • twenty-year-old
  • twenty-something
  • twenty-one
  • twenty-twenty vision

Phrases

  • the roaring twenties
  • twenty-four seven
  • twenty-twenty

Prepositions

  • in one's twenties
  • by the twenties

Etymology

Old EnglishGermanicEnglish

The word 'twenty' comes from Old English 'twēntig', which was formed by combining 'twēġen' (meaning 'two') with '-tig' (meaning 'group of ten'). So 'twenty' literally meant 'two groups of ten'. This pattern of building number words from a digit plus '-ty' is shared across the Germanic languages — compare German 'zwanzig', Dutch 'twintig', and Old Norse 'tuttugu'. The historical connection to 'two' and 'ten' is still visible in the first three letters ('twe-') and the '-ty' suffix.