eleven

[ih-lev-uhn]

noun

1. a cardinal number, ten plus one.

2. a symbol for this number, such as 11 or XI.

3. a set or group of 11 people or things, such as a football or soccer team.

   The new forward plays a pivotal role in the Manchester eleven.

4. Also called eleven lines. Informal.,  none elevens or 11s. a pair of vertical wrinkles that commonly develop between the eyebrows; frown lines.

   My dermatologist said he could fix my elevens with no injections or plastic surgery.

adjective

1. amounting to one more than ten in number.

eleven

/ ɪˈlɛvən /

noun

1. the cardinal number that is the sum of ten and one

2. a numeral 11, XI, etc, representing this number

3. something representing, represented by, or consisting of 11 units

4. (functioning as singular or plural) a team of 11 players in football, cricket, hockey, etc

5. Also called: eleven o'clock. eleven hours after noon or midnight

determiner

1. 1. amounting to eleven

      eleven chances

   2. ( as pronoun )

      have another eleven today

Word History and Origins

Origin of eleven¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English elleven(e), Old English ellefne, endleofan; cognate with Old High German einlif ( German elf ), Old Norse ellifu, Gothic ainlib-, literally, one remaining (after counting ten). See one, leave ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of eleven¹

Old English endleofan; related to Old Norse ellefo, Gothic ainlif, Old Frisian andlova, Old High German einlif

Example Sentences

Currently, she has eleven “champion trick-trained” dogs that can even ride skateboards if the party gets too dull.

From Salon

This version honors that spirit — the layers, the excess, the joy — while turning the volume up to eleven and adding a few tricks of its own.

From Salon

On June 1, a high school house party in Hickory, North Carolina, ended in gunfire, killing one and injuring eleven others — many of them students.

From Salon

After eleven weeks, the remaining 13 can be transferred to the birth partner if wanted, so they can use them as extra maternity leave.

From BBC

On a corporate level, it’s what separates fast food institutions like KFC from Kroger’s deli counter; the “eleven herbs and spices” are the stuff of marketing legend.

From Salon

When To Use

Spelling tips for 11

The word eleven (11) is hard to spell because the word sounds as if it should include the letter i [ ih-lev-uhn ]. How to spell eleven: The easiest way to remember how to spell eleven is that every other letter is an e. There are no other vowels. You simply take all of the consonant sounds (l, v, and n), and add an e between all of them: eLeVeN.