What does six mean?
Six is the English cardinal numeral denoting one more than five and one less than seven. It normally appears before a plural count noun, such as “six apples,” after a determiner or other number, as in “the sixth candidate,” or as a standalone label, as in “There are six.” In cricket, a six is a single stroke that sends the ball over the boundary without touching the ground, scoring six runs. The expression “at sixes and sevens” uses the numeral to describe disorder or confusion, while the proverb about six of one thing and half a dozen of another evokes the equivalence of the two quantities despite their different wording. Six is also familiar through dice, clocks, and ordinary measurements: on a standard six-sided die, the face opposite one bears six, and the three pairs of opposite faces total seven. As an exact, easily understood quantity, six has few true synonyms, though “half a dozen” provides a familiar equivalent in some contexts.
The cardinal number denoting a quantity of six, one more than five and one less than seven.
"There are six places still available at the table."
Used to state an exact count before a plural noun or independently as a numerical label.
Denoting a quantity, duration, or member of a set amounting to six.
"The council held a six-day hearing before reaching its decision."
This attributive use is closely related to its role as a cardinal numeral.
The number six itself; by extension, a cricket hit that scores six runs.
"The ball cleared the boundary rope for six."
The noun sense is chiefly associated with cricket; general reference to the number is usually handled as a numeral.
At intervals, in groups, or for a distance amounting to six.
"The volunteers were dispatched six at a time."
This use is especially common in phrases expressing groups or frequency.
The plural is uncommon in general use but standard in cricket for separate scores of six runs.
"She hit two sixes in the final over."
On a standard die, six sits opposite one, and every pair of opposite faces adds up to seven.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does six come from?
The English numeral descends from Old English sex, the inherited Germanic word for the number six. Its deeper ancestor is Proto-Germanic *seks, a form cognate with German sechs, Dutch zes, Danish seks, and Afrikaans ses. Over time, the Old English form developed into modern six through later changes in its vowel and spelling.
Related word forms
How six is actually used
The basic numeral is neutral in register and standard in both British and American English. When it modifies a following unit, it normally remains separate, as in “six feet apart”; compound modifiers such as “six-day” are hyphenated.
Easily confused with six
Six is the numeral 6, whereas sex refers to biological sex or matters relating to sexual activity.