Hour
ˈaʊər
Definitions
2 meaningsA unit of time equal to 60 minutes.
ˈaʊər
A unit of time
The concert lasted for two hours.
💡 Simply: An hour is like a big chunk of time, like the time it takes to watch a movie or do a fun activity. Imagine you're playing video games for an hour - that's how long an hour feels!
👶 For kids: An hour is a long time, like when you're playing with your toys or reading a book.
More Examples
She works eight hours a day.
Let's meet in an hour.
How It's Used
"The meeting will last for one hour."
"I spend several hours studying each day."
A specific time of day or a designated time period.
ˈaʊər
A specific time of day
Please call during office hours.
💡 Simply: It's like when something is going to happen, like the 'lunch hour' at school or the 'happy hour' at a restaurant. It's a specific time of day when something special is happening!
👶 For kids: It's like a special time of day for a special thing!
More Examples
The rush hour traffic is terrible.
Happy hour starts at 5 PM.
How It's Used
"The shop is open during business hours."
"The dinner hour is at 7 PM."
Idioms & expressions
at the eleventh hour
At the last possible moment; just before it is too late.
"The agreement was reached at the eleventh hour, just before the deadline."
hour of need
A time when someone requires assistance.
"We are here for you in your hour of need."
off-hour
During a time outside of regular business or service hours.
"The store offers customer support during off-hours."
From Old French *oure*, from Latin *hora*, from Greek *hōra* meaning 'season' or 'time'.
Used since Middle English, evolving from the Old French 'oure'.
Memory tip
Think of the hands on a clock moving around the circle, marking the hours.