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Ordinal Number for Dummies

noun


What does Ordinal Number really mean?

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Alright, so an ordinal number is a number that shows the position or order of something in a list or sequence. Let's break it down a little bit more. You know, when we count things like 1, 2, 3, we use what we call "cardinal numbers," which tell us how many things there are. But when we want to talk about the order or position of something in a list, we use ordinal numbers, like first, second, third, and so on.

For example, if you and your friends are having a race, and you come in third place, "third" is the ordinal number that shows your position in the race. It's like saying you're in the 3rd place. Another example is when you're looking at a menu and you want to order your favorite food, you might say "I'll have the first item on the list," in this case "first" is the ordinal number indicating the specific position of the item on the menu.

So, ordinal numbers are all about showing the order, position, or rank of things in a sequence. They help us understand where things are placed in relation to each other. It's kind of like giving directions on a map - you use ordinal numbers to pinpoint specific locations. Does that make sense? So, in a nutshell, when you hear the term "ordinal number," just think of it as a number that tells you which place or position something is in a list or sequence. Cool, right?

Revised and Fact checked by Olivia Brown on 2023-11-16 12:59:22

Ordinal Number In a sentece

Learn how to use Ordinal Number inside a sentece

  • In a race, if you finish first, second, third, fourth, or fifth, those are ordinal numbers describing your position.
  • When you line up with your friends, you can say you are standing in the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth position, which are ordinal numbers.
  • If you have a list of your favorite movies, you can say that 'The Lion King' is your first choice, 'Toy Story' is your second choice, 'Frozen' is your third choice, and so on. These choices are described using ordinal numbers.
  • When you celebrate your birthday, the number of candles on your cake represents your age using ordinal numbers. If you are turning six, there will be six candles on your cake.
  • In a classroom, the teacher may call students to come to the front one by one. The first student will be called, then the second, third, fourth, and so on. These students are called using ordinal numbers.

Ordinal Number Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Ordinal Number Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

Ordinal Number Hyponyms

Words that are more specific than the original word.