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; see o' + clock ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

o'clock

"You've got fans leaving at three o'clock in the morning or you're going the night before and having to pay for a hotel."

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Another moment that I really like in the show is Odessa’s character, she wants to change a dinner reservation to five people at 8 o’clock.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

“I fail to understand why anybody in airport bars is serving people at five or six o’clock in the morning,” he told British newspaper the Times.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

"On the Saturday, you go in at eight o'clock in the morning, you have your hair done for an hour, so you might be having hair pieces and whatnot added," she said.

From BBC ● May 25, 2026

Somehow I made it through the day, and at six o’clock I went down to the women’s room and gathered my handbag.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu