1
: a time or office for daily liturgical devotion
especially
: canonical hour
2
: the 24th part of a day : 60 minutes
3
a
: the time of day reckoned in two 12-hour periods
b
hours plural
: the time reckoned in one 24-hour period from midnight to midnight using a 4-digit number of which the first two digits indicate the hour and the last two digits indicate the minute
in the military 4:30 p.m. is called 1630 hours
4
a
: a customary or particular time
lunch hour
in our hour of need
b
hours plural
: time of going to bed
keeps late hours
also
: time of working
banker's hours
5
: an angular unit of right ascension equal to 15 degrees measured along the celestial equator
6
: the work done or distance traveled at normal rate in an hour
the city was two hours away
7
a
: a class session
b
Examples of hour in a Sentence
She wasn't supposed to eat for six hours before the operation.
You'll be paid by the hour for this job.
The job pays ten dollars an hour.
She exercises for a full hour every day.
She was half an hour late.
They arrived a few hours later.
The project required long hours of work.
The mood changed from hour to hour.
These animals are most active in the hour just before sunrise.
You can call me at any hour of the day or night.
Recent Examples on the Web
About two hours before Harris began speaking, lines of supporters snaked around fencing near the Ellipse site, running for blocks and reaching well into the National Mall.
—
Louis Jacobson, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Italian Kitchen Open on Thanksgiving Day but hours may vary.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024
And now for the hour’s comic relief, which comes in the form of Laoghaire trying to kill Jamie with her bare hands.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 22 Nov. 2024
Remove from trays, and let cool completely on wire racks, about 1 hour.
—Tricia Manzanero Stuedeman, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hour 
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Louis Jacobson, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Italian Kitchen Open on Thanksgiving Day but hours may vary.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024
And now for the hour’s comic relief, which comes in the form of Laoghaire trying to kill Jamie with her bare hands.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 22 Nov. 2024
Remove from trays, and let cool completely on wire racks, about 1 hour.
—Tricia Manzanero Stuedeman, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hour
Dictionary Entries Near hour
Cite this Entry
“Hour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hour. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hour
noun1
: a time for or rite of religious worship
2
: one of the 24 divisions of a day : 60 minutes
3
: the time of day
the hour is now 10:00 a.m.
4
: a fixed or particular time
lunch hour
an hour of need
5
: the distance traveled in an hour
lives two hours away
6
: a class session
I have math this hour
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