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

He’d go to bed probably at midnight, one o’clock, and he’s up taking the kids to school, he’s mountain biking, and he’s ready to roll.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

And last week we did like a full day of shooting — not a full-full day, but like 10 to 3 o’clock, and by the end of it, I was, like, “This is killing me.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

She said it was "5 or 6 o'clock in the morning by the time we were getting home - it was mad!"

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

Shortly after 10 o'clock this morning Andy Burnham finally confirmed what had been obvious for days - that he would stand to be the next Labour leader and therefore the UK's next prime minister.

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

“How do you like that? It’s five o’clock on the dot right now.”

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar