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counterclockwise

American  
[kaun-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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of counterclockwise

First recorded in 1885–90; counter- + clockwise


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Vocabulary lists containing counterclockwise

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.

See Examples For:

These vortices form in pairs that rotate in opposite directions, with one spinning clockwise and the other counterclockwise.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 7, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2025

The dance opens with Abraham in a running solo, winding around the stage in counterclockwise circles.

From New York Times ● Dec. 4, 2024

The animation below gives a sense of the storm’s motion, spinning counterclockwise and forming a classic cyclone as a jet of moisture flows from it over the West Coast.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 20, 2024

A series of quick sidearm jerks and our kite shot up counterclockwise, in a half circle.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

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