small hours

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plural noun

hours after midnight; early morning hours: We danced into the small hours.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of small hours

First recorded in 1830–40

Words nearby small hours

small frog in a big pond, small fry, small game, small goods, small holding, small hours, small intestine, smallish, small letter, small-minded, smallmouth bass

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use small hours in a sentence

Although we arrived hours late, she was gracious enough to do the interview in the small hours of the morning.
Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato’s Favorite World of Wonder Clips (VIDEO)|Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato|February 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Just this sudden waking in the small hours, these words given as though in revelation.
The Best of Brit Lit|Peter Stothard|August 20, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Hester—small, animated, highly rouged—opened the ball, and danced until the small hours “with astonishing elasticity.”
History's Most Memorable Mistress|Ian McIntyre|December 26, 2008|DAILY BEAST
I fancy it was pretty well turned, and that made the wrench during the small hours the more severe.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton

The night had been very dark, and in the small hours the Dutch had left in silence, and were now marching away from Brussels.
Belgium|George W. T. (George William Thomson) Omond
But the Officer of the Watch said that the small hours passed quietly; no firing ashore during the hours of darkness.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume 2|Ian Hamilton
In the small hours of Sunday morning, when the camp was astir in the darkness, a rifle-shot rang out quite close to me.
The Relief of Mafeking|Filson Young
Time passed, the small hours struck, and still the stranger made no sign of going.
Vie de Bohme|Orlo Williams

British Dictionary definitions for small hours

small hours

pl n

the small hours the early hours of the morning, after midnight and before dawn

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with small hours

small hours

Also, wee hours. The hours following midnight, as in I stayed up working through the small hours, or The parents didn't come home until the wee hours. The adjectives small and wee both refer to the low numbers of those hours (one o'clock, two o'clock, etc.). [c. 1830]

small hours

Origin of small hours

Words nearby small hours

Words related to small hours

How to use small hours in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for small hours

Other Idioms and Phrases with small hours