hours: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1Neutral (used across all registers)
Quick answer
What does “hours” mean?
The plural form of 'hour,' referring to periods of time equal to 60 minutes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The plural form of 'hour,' referring to periods of time equal to 60 minutes.
1. A specific point in time (e.g., office hours). 2. A long period of time. 3. Distance measured in the time taken to travel.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling differences in related compounds (e.g., 'hourglass' vs. 'hourglass' same). 'After hours' is common in both. 'On the hour' vs. 'at the hour' is negligible.
Connotations
Similar connotations. 'Unsocial hours' (UK) vs. 'odd hours'/'off-hours' (US) for work outside standard times.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “hours” in a Sentence
for __ hourshours of __hours a day/week__ hours laterin the early/late hoursVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hours” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team will hour their efforts to meet the deadline.
- He's been houring away at that project all night.
American English
- She hours over her artwork to get it perfect.
- They hour the details meticulously.
adverb
British English
- They worked hourly to finish the task.
- The updates came in hourly.
American English
- The nurse checked on him hourly.
- We receive reports hourly.
adjective
British English
- It was an hours-long queue for the tickets.
- They offer an hourly service.
American English
- We had an hours-long wait at the DMV.
- The hourly updates kept us informed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to operating times, work schedules, and billable units (e.g., 'billable hours').
Academic
Used in describing study time, lab hours, or historical periods.
Everyday
Common for discussing daily routines, travel time, and waiting periods.
Technical
In fields like astronomy (sidereal hours), medicine (visiting hours), or computing (CPU hours).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hours”
- Using singular 'hour' for plural concepts (e.g., 'I waited for an hour' vs. 'I waited for hours').
- Incorrect preposition: 'during three hours' instead of 'for three hours.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's 'an hour' because 'hour' begins with a vowel sound (/aʊər/).
'In an hour' means an hour from now (future point). 'After an hour' means once an hour has passed (often looking back).
No, 'hours' is strictly plural. For singular, use 'hour.' However, it can be a modifier in compounds like 'hours-long.'
The correct possessive form is 'two hours' time' (or 'two hours time' without apostrophe in some styles). 'Hour's' is singular possessive (e.g., 'an hour's drive').
The plural form of 'hour,' referring to periods of time equal to 60 minutes.
Hours is usually neutral (used across all registers) in register.
Hours: in British English it is pronounced /ˈaʊəz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈaʊɚz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “after hours”
- “at all hours”
- “keep late hours”
- “on the hour”
- “the small hours”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"HOURS = How Our Universe Runs Slowly" reminds you it's a measure of time.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A RESOURCE (e.g., 'invest hours,' 'waste hours'), TIME IS SPACE (e.g., 'hours ahead').
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is most appropriate for describing a very late time at night?