counterclockwise

American

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

adjective

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

counterclockwise British

/ ˌkaʊntəˈklɒkˌwaɪz /

adverb

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

Compare meaning

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

clockwise vs. 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.

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

From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2026

In a storm like this, the winds move counterclockwise, Bassill added.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

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

From New York Times • Dec. 4, 2024

In the new image, however, the brightest part of a ring surrounding the black hole has shifted counterclockwise by about 30°.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 17, 2024

He did everything exactly as before, except this time, when he inserted the Crystal Key, he turned it counterclockwise instead of clockwise.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

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