What does "trio" mean?
A group of three people or things.
Trio
/ˈtɹi.əʊ/ name, noun
name, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A group of three people or things.
- Grammar: trio is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: threesome, triad, ternary, ternion.
- Useful contrasts: duos, quadruplet, quatern.
- Usage evidence: A quartet has one more member than a trio.
How to use "trio"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "trio" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "trio" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "trio" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "trio" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "trio" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "threesome" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "trio", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A group of three people or things.
"I'm cooking crab cakes with arugula and mayonnaise, griddled lamb with rosemary potatoes and buttered spinach, then a trio of desserts."
- 2 Alternative form of Tiriyó. alt-of, alternative, plural, plural-only
- 3 a musical composition for three performers wordnet
- 4 A group of three musicians.
"Mr. Cleaver latched on to the idea, and within moments, the trio was swinging hard over a walking bass line — the equivalent of a blurred picture coming into unequivocal focus."
- 5 three people considered as a unit wordnet
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 A piece of music written for three musicians.
"I love his music, but it is a bit disconcerting to realize that you could die in extreme old age and still only be familiar with a mere handful of the baryton trios."
- 7 a set of three similar things considered as a unit wordnet
- 8 A passage in the middle of a minuet, frequently in a different key.
- 9 three performers or singers who perform together wordnet
- 10 Any cocktail made with a spirit, a liqueur, and a creamy ingredient.
- 11 the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one wordnet
- 12 Synonym of three-in-one (“type of fast food”).
Proper Noun
- 1 Alternative form of Tiriyó. alt-of, alternative
Antonyms
Example
"A quartet has one more member than a trio."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "trio"?
Common synonyms include: threesome, triad, ternary, ternion, trine, trinity.
How do you use "trio" in a sentence?
A quartet has one more member than a trio.
How do you pronounce "trio"?
Pronounced /ˈtɹi.əʊ/.
Etymology
PIE word *tréyes 1715-25; borrowing from Italian trio.