FluencyCraft

hour

"Hour" is a straightforward but very useful word in English. It has a core meaning related to time, but it also appears in a few figurative and extended uses that are worth knowing.

1noununit of time

An hour is a fixed unit of time equal to 60 minutes. Think of a clock face — when the minute hand goes all the way around once, one hour has passed. There are 24 hours in a day.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

The flight from London to Paris takes about one hour.

She studied for three hours before the exam.

I will meet you in half an hour — so in 30 minutes.

2nouna specific time of day

You can use 'hour' to refer to a particular point in the day, especially in formal or precise contexts. Instead of saying 'at 3 o'clock', you might say 'at the third hour' or 'at this hour', meaning right now.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

At this hour, most people are already asleep.

The news is broadcast every hour on the hour.

He called me at a very late hour — it was past midnight.

3nouna period set aside for a purpose

Sometimes 'hour' refers to a block of time dedicated to a specific activity or role. You will often see it used in the plural — 'hours' — to describe when a place is open or when someone is available.

everyday language / business · Modern, widely used

The doctor's office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We offer a happy hour at the café every Friday afternoon.

Please contact us during business hours.

4nounfigurativean important or significant moment

Figuratively, 'hour' can describe a key or defining moment in someone's life or in history — not exactly 60 minutes, but a period that feels especially important or critical.

formal writing / speeches · Formal, common in literature and speeches · figurative

This is the country's finest hour — we must stand together.

She proved her courage in her darkest hour.

The team rose to the challenge in their hour of need.

Content generated by AI — may contain inaccuracies