counterclockwise

American  

[koun-ter-klok-wahyz] / ˌkaʊn tərˈklɒkˌwaɪz /

adjective

1. in a direction opposite to that of the normal rotation of the hands of a clock; not clockwise.

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counterclockwise British  

/ ˌkaʊntəˈklɒkˌwaɪz /

adverb

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): anticlockwise.  in the opposite direction to the rotation of the hands of a clock

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Etymology

Origin of counterclockwise

First recorded in 1885–90; counter- + clockwise

Compare meaning

How does counterclockwise compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• clockwise vs. counterclockwise

Example Sentences

I have her spin counterclockwise as I unwind the ribbons.

From Literature

The weather service office in Oxnard said the storm could rotate counterclockwise in that area, which could produce a small tornado.

From Los Angeles Times

Meals divided his trek into 10-mile segments, 34 in all, and set out to walk two segments each week for four months, traveling counterclockwise from the 5,075-foot summit of Mt.

From Los Angeles Times

On Day 1, you play it clockwise; on Day 2, counterclockwise.

From The Wall Street Journal

A clockwise high-pressure system was parked over Northern California and the Great Basin as a counterclockwise low-pressure system hovered over Arizona.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• revolving