rush hour

American  

noun

rush hours plural

1. a time of day in which large numbers of people are in transit, as going to or returning from work, and that is characterized by particularly heavy traffic.

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rush hour British  

noun

1. a period at the beginning and end of the working day when large numbers of people are travelling to or from work

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• rush-hour
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• rush hours
  plural

Etymology

Origin of rush hour

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Chamblas found inspiration from footage of falling buildings and Union Station at rush hour.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026

Typical rush hour congestion already creates borderline unsafe conditions for boarding and exiting popular junctions like Penn Station and Secaucus, partially because these rail lines already run over capacity.

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2026

Driving to, in, and out of Brooklyn during rush hour is a truly miserable experience.

From Barron's • May 3, 2026

"I get to avoid the rush hour and being packed in like a sardine," says the 23-year-old in Salford, Greater Manchester.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

He just kept thinking: Don't look at me, and hoped the Romans below would fail to notice the giant bronze trireme descending on their city in the middle of morning rush hour.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• congestion
• traffic jam