office hours
Americanplural noun
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the hours during which a professional person or an office conducts regular business.
-
the hours a person spends working in an office.
plural noun
-
the hours during which an office is open for business
-
the number of hours worked in an office
Etymology
Origin of office hours
First recorded in 1795–1805
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.
It is not uncommon for employees to bring in cardigans or sweaters to wear in office hours because temperatures are maintained at such low levels.
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2026
The "Patriots Collaborate for Good Governance" forum on Tuesday was held during office hours and drew many elderly people.
From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2025
Last year, our employer made us sign new contracts with revised office hours, moving to the new four-day-in-office policy.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2025
Then he holds office hours to go over works in progress.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2025
Had she not died, she would’ve met Oscar, read this paper, graded it, talked to him during her office hours.
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
