o'clock

American  

[uh-klok] / əˈklɒk /

adverb

1. of, by, or according to the clock (used in specifying the hour of the day).

   It is now 4 o'clock.

2. 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.

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o'clock British  

/ əˈklɒk /

adverb

1. used after a number from one to twelve to indicate the hour of the day or night

2. 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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Etymology

Origin of o'clock

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

Example Sentences

"I really didn't like having a 12 o'clock curfew, because I just didn't feel like you should need it," he added.

From BBC

"It was a Sunday afternoon about four o'clock, and the waters began rising," the Red Cross quoted her as saying later in 2000.

From BBC

"It was amazing, I couldn't believe how many people were there at seven o'clock when we teed off," he said.

From BBC

"Because he said he would arrive at four o'clock in the afternoon. He arrived at seven o'clock, kept me standing there, practising curtsy and curtsy," she said.

From BBC

"By then it was probably three o'clock in the afternoon here, I called the Nobel Committee. Of course they were in bed, because it was probably one o'clock in the morning there," Dr Ramsell said.

From BBC