24/7

American

[twen-tee-fawr sev-uhn, ‑-fohr‑, twuhn-tee‑] / ˈtwɛn tiˌfɔr ˈsɛv ən, ‑ˌfoʊr‑, ˈtwʌn ti‑ /

Or 24‑7,

adverb

continually; constantly.

They're together 24/7.

adjective

continual; constant.

The manufacturer offers 24/7 customer support.

24/7 Cultural

Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week: “This convenience store is open 24/7.” The term, which also appears as “24-7,” can be used figuratively to mean “with great time and effort”: “We worked on the design 24/7 in order to complete the work on time.” This phrase was coined in the late twentieth century.

Etymology

Origin of 24/7

First recorded in 1985–90; shortening of twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Before passengers are put on the trains, the system must run 24/7 for 30 days “without any hiccups,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

Solar-powered sensors embedded within the snow pile monitor fluctuations in temperature 24/7.

From Slate • Apr. 11, 2026

"Their dust is deeply buried and watched 24/7," US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters on Wednesday.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Customers can use the platform to manage both fiat currency and stablecoins—cryptocurrencies pegged to the U.S. dollar or other assets—allowing for 24/7 operations.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

I could barely make out some in the dull light that shines over the field 24/7.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023