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

“But we also like to deposit them back at their parents’ house at 7 o’clock, so we can be in bed to read at 8.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 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

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

But by ten o’clock that night, Jackson was still waiting in Miss Lawrence’s car.

From "I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964" by Lauren Tarshis