Clock — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈkläk/

Meaning & Definition of Clock

Clock (noun)

  1. a device other than a watch for indicating or measuring time commonly by means of hands moving on a dial; broadly, any periodic system by which time is measured
  2. a registering device usually with a dial; specifically, odometer
  3. time clock
  4. an ornamental figure on the ankle or side of a stocking or sock

Clock (verb)

  1. to time with a stopwatch or by an electric timing device
  2. to be timed at
  3. to register on a mechanical recording device

Clock (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a device to measure time

    "the clock reads 5:00 p.m."

    similar: chronometer, timekeeper, timepiece, timer
    related: alarm clock, atomic clock, cuckoo clock, grandfather clock, time clock, clepsydra, hourglass, sandglass, sundial, water clock, chronograph, stopwatch, watch

Clock (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner

    "sick of being insulted, he swung around and clocked his tormentor hard enough to knock him off his bar stool"

    similar: bang, bash, bat, belt, biff, bludgeon, bob, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clout, crack, hammer, hit, knock, nail, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, tag, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, zap, hang one on
    related: batter, beat, buffet, bung, chop, cuff, drub, lace, lambaste, lick, mangle, maul, pelt, pepper, pommel, pummel, rough, scuff, bunt, flick, stroke, tap, bump, butt, jab, jostle, kick, knee, poke, prod, push, shove, stamp, bowl (down or over), cream, deck, dump (slang), fell, floor, knock down, level, rabbit-punch, sucker punch, cane, club, cudgel, flail, flog, lash, sap, slash, sledge, sledgehammer, spear, stab, switch, thrash, whip, bean, brain, conk, skull

Related Entry: Clock (up) (verb)

Clock (up) is a different word from Clock. The synonyms below are for clock (up), not for clock.

  1. to obtain (as a goal) through effort

    "among British actors he holds the distinction of having clocked up the most performances of Hamlet on the London stage"

    similar: achieve, attain, bag, chalk up, gain, hit, log, make, notch (up), rack up, ring up, score, win
    related: acquire, capture, carry, draw, garner, get, land, obtain, procure, realize, secure, amount (to), approach, equal, match, measure up (to), meet, rival, tie, touch, beat, excel, outdo, surpass, top
    near: fall short (of), miss, fail (at), lose

Related Entry: Clock in (at) (phrase)

Clock in (at) is a different word from Clock. The synonyms below are for clock in (at), not for clock.

  1. to have a total of

    "After days of aggressive cold-calls, they managed to clock in at 123 sales."

    similar: add up (to), aggregate, amount (to), come (to), count (up to), number, sum (to or into), total
    related: average, equal, measure, reach, compose, comprise, constitute, make up

Related Entry: Clock (in) (verb)

Clock (in) is a different word from Clock. The synonyms below are for clock (in), not for clock.

  1. as in check in

    similar: check in, barge (in), blow in, breeze (in), burst (in or into), waltz (in), debark, disembark, pull in, touch down, fetch, hit, make, reach, appear, arrive, come, get in, get through, land, show up, turn up
    opposite: go, leave, check out, clock (out), flee, vamoose

Related Entry: Clock (out) (verb)

Clock (out) is a different word from Clock. The synonyms below are for clock (out), not for clock.

  1. as in check out

    similar: check out, go, leave, flee, vamoose
    opposite: appear, arrive, come, get in, get through, land, show up, turn up, fetch, hit, make, reach, pull in, touch down

Related Entry: Clock-watcher (noun)

Clock-watcher is a different word from Clock. The synonyms below are for clock-watcher, not for clock.

  1. as in slacker, shirker

    similar: goldbrick, malingerer, shirker, slacker, crawler, creeper, dawdler, laggard, putterer, slowpoke, snail, stick-in-the-mud, straggler, dallier, lingerer, loiterer, loller, lounger, saunterer, bum, good-for-nothing, ne'er-do-well, delayer, procrastinator, couch potato, deadbeat, do-nothing, drone, idler, layabout, lazybones, loafer, lotus-eater, slouch, slug, slugabed, sluggard, dropout, quitter
    opposite: doer, go-ahead, go-getter, hummer, hustler, self-starter, achiever, comer, highflier, live wire, powerhouse

Related Entry: Clock-watchers (noun)

Clock-watchers is a different word from Clock. The synonyms below are for clock-watchers, not for clock.

  1. as in slackers, shirkers

    similar: goldbricks, malingerers, shirkers, slackers, crawlers, creepers, dawdlers, laggards, putterers, slowpokes, snails, stick-in-the-muds, stragglers, dalliers, lingerers, loiterers, lollers, loungers, saunterers, bums, good-for-nothings, ne'er-do-wells, delayers, procrastinators, couch potatoes, deadbeats, do-nothings, drones, idlers, layabouts, lazybones, loafers, lotus-eaters, slouches, slugabeds, sluggards, slugs, dropouts, quitters
    opposite: doers, go-aheads, go-getters, hummers, hustlers, self-starters, achievers, comers, highfliers, live wires, powerhouses

Related Entry: Alarm clock (noun)

Alarm clock is a different word from Clock. The synonyms below are for alarm clock, not for clock.

  1. as in atomic clock, time clock

    similar: atomic clock, cuckoo clock, grandfather clock, time clock, chronometer, clock, timekeeper, timepiece, timer, clepsydra, hourglass, sandglass, sundial, water clock, chronograph, stopwatch, watch

Related Entry: Around-the-clock (adjective)

Around-the-clock is a different word from Clock. The synonyms below are for around-the-clock, not for clock.

  1. as in round-the-clock, hourly

    similar: 24-7, hourly, round-the-clock, cyclic, chronic, confirmed, inveterate, continual, intermittent, recurrent, recurring, expected, usual, constant, frequent, habitual, periodic, periodical, regular, repeated, steady
    opposite: inconstant, infrequent, irregular, episodic, occasional, unexpected, unusual

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Clock

The most common words with a similar meaning to Clock:

chronometer, timekeeper, timepiece, timer, bang, bash, bat, belt, biff, bludgeon, bob, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clout, crack, hammer, hit, knock, nail, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, tag, thump

Related Words for Clock

alarm clock, atomic clock, cuckoo clock, grandfather clock, time clock, clepsydra, hourglass, sandglass, sundial, water clock, chronograph, stopwatch, watch, batter, beat, buffet, bung, chop, cuff, drub, lace, lambaste, lick, mangle, maul, pelt, pepper, pommel, pummel, rough

Word Forms of Clock

Inflections: clocks, clocked, clocking

Derived words: clocker (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Clock

Middle English clok, from Middle Dutch clocke bell, clock, from Old French or Medieval Latin; Old French dialect (Picard) cloque bell, from Medieval Latin clocca, of Celtic origin; akin to Middle Irish clocc bell

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Clock

Words & Phrases Containing Clock

clock radio, clock-watcher, clock off/out, clock up, against the clock, alarm clock, around the clock

Frequently Asked Questions about Clock

What does "Clock" mean?

"Clock" means a device other than a watch for indicating or measuring time commonly by means of hands moving on a dial; broadly, any periodic system by which time is measured. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a device other than a watch for indicating or measuring time commonly by means of hands moving on a dial; broadly, any periodic system by which time is measured. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Clock"?

Other words for "Clock" include chronometer, timekeeper, timepiece, timer, bang, bash, bat and belt. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Clock" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Clock"?

There are 121 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Clock". Common alternatives include chronometer, timekeeper, timepiece, timer, bang, bash, bat, belt, biff and bludgeon.

How do you use "Clock" in a sentence?

Examples of "Clock" in a sentence: "the clock reads 5:00 p.m."; "sick of being insulted, he swung around and clocked his tormentor hard enough to knock him off his bar stool".

Is "Clock" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Clock" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Clock" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Clock" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Clock"?

"Clock" is pronounced /ˈkläk/.

What is the origin of the word "Clock"?

"Clock" comes from Middle English clok, from Middle Dutch clocke bell, clock, from Old French or Medieval Latin; Old French dialect (Picard) cloque bell, from Medieval Latin clocca, of Celtic origin; akin to Middle Irish clocc bell. First known use: 14th century.