O'CLOCK Definition & Meaning

o'clock

[ uh-klok ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adverb

of, by, or according to the clock (used in specifying the hour of the day):
It is now 4 o'clock.
according to a method for indicating relative position whereby a plane in space is considered to be numbered as a clock's face, with 12 o'clock considered as directly ahead in horizontal position or straight up in vertical position.

o'clock

/ əˈ��ɒ�� /

adverb

used after a number from one to twelve to indicate the hour of the day or night
used after a number to indicate direction or position relative to the observer, twelve o'clock being directly ahead or overhead and other positions being obtained by comparisons with a clock face

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of o'clock¹

First recorded in 1710–20; from o', a reduced form of of; o' + clock ¹( def )

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of o'clock¹

C18: abbreviation for of the clock

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Can I afford to knock off work at three o'clock in the afternoon to pick up the kids from school?

From

"We have had children who have got themselves in a right state because they take their phones to their bedrooms and are sending messages at three o'clock in the morning," she said.

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"Six o'clock Thursday night I had not heard anything then I got a text at 10pm," Burn added.

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"It's nil-by-mouth from 12 o'clock the night before, so I went out for fish and chips - always God's food," he said.

From

It's two o'clock in the morning in Nairobi, and the TikTok Lives are in full flow.

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