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hour

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noun American English pronunciation: hour /aʊr/ 
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singularhour
pluralhours
Other entries for this word
 
  1. 1
    [countable] a period of time that consists of 60 minutes. 30 minutes is usually called half an hour, 15 minutes can be called a quarter of an hour, and 45 minutes can be called three-quarters of an hour
    every hour:

    She checked on the children every hour.

    an hour ago:

    He left about an hour ago.

    an hour of something:

    After an hour of arguing, he agreed.

    an hour's sleep/exercise/practice etc.:

    Why don't you get an hour's sleep?

    for an hour:

    I've been waiting for over an hour.

    take an hour to do something:

    This dish takes about an hour to cook.

    it takes an hour to do something:

    It takes nearly an hour to get there by bus.

    in an hour/an hour's time:

    I can be there in an hour.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hour
    1. a.
      used when you are talking about how much time you need to get somewhere
      an hour along/past something:

      An hour along the beach road are some little stores.

      an hour away (from something):

      Annapolis is only an hour away from here.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hour
  2. 2

    hours

     [plural] a long time

    I'm hungry and it's hours until dinner.

    for hours (on end):

    I lay awake for hours thinking about John.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hour
  3. 3

    hours

     [plural] the time during which you do something such as work or study

    My job is very flexible – I can fit my hours around my children.

    long hours:

    She's putting in long hours at the library.

    school/working hours:

    courses that take place outside school hours

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hour
  4. 4
    [countable] a particular time in the day or night

    You can call me at any hour of the day or night.

    What are you doing out of bed at this hour (=so early or late)?

    the hours of daylight/darkness:

    They usually hunt during the hours of darkness.

    at all hours:

    You get cars coming down here at all hours.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hour
  5. 5
    [singular] a particular point in history or in someone's life or career
    someone's/something's finest hour:

    His finest hour came in 1982 when his movie Gandhi won eight Oscars.

    someone's/something's darkest hour (=worst time):

    We have lived through our country's darkest hour.

    in someone's hour of need (=at a time when they really need help):

    No one had helped him in his hour of need.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hour
  6. 6

    the hour

     the time that is exactly one o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock etc.
    after the hour:

    The bus stops here at six minutes after the hour.

    on the hour:

    Trains for Edinburgh leave every hour on the hour.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hour

phrases

This is the American English definition of hour. View British English definition of hour.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

View the pronunciation for hour.

 

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