Hour — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈau̇(-ə)r/

Meaning & Definition of Hour

Hour (noun)

  1. a time or office for daily liturgical devotion; especially, canonical hour
  2. the 24th part of a day, 60 minutes
  3. the time of day reckoned in two 12-hour periods

Hour (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action

    "we're at the zero hour, so someone has to make a decision"

    similar: boiling point, breaking point, clutch, conjuncture, crisis, crossroad(s), crunch, crunch time, Dunkirk, emergency, exigency, extremity, flash point, head, juncture, tinderbox, moment of truth, point of no return
    related: contingency, possibility, climax, turning point, happening, landmark, milestone, condition, pass, situation, strait, deadlock, impasse, stalemate, corner, fix, hole, hot water, jam, last ditch, pinch, predicament, scrape, spot, eleventh hour, last minute

  2. the latest possible time

    "The killer's life was spared at the eleventh hour."

    similar: last minute, boiling point, breaking point, clutch, conjuncture, crisis, crossroad(s), crunch, crunch time, Dunkirk, emergency, exigency, extremity, flash point, head, juncture, tinderbox, zero hour, contingency, possibility, climax, turning point, happening, landmark, milestone, condition, pass, situation, strait, deadlock, impasse, stalemate, corner, fix, hole, hot water, jam, last ditch, pinch, predicament, scrape, spot

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hour

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hour:

boiling point, breaking point, clutch, conjuncture, crisis, crossroad(s), crunch, crunch time, Dunkirk, emergency, exigency, extremity, flash point, head, juncture, tinderbox, moment of truth, point of no return, last minute, zero hour, contingency, possibility, climax, turning point, happening, landmark, milestone, condition, pass, situation, strait, deadlock, impasse, stalemate, corner, fix, hole, hot water, jam, last ditch

Related Words for Hour

eleventh hour

Origin & Etymology of Hour

Middle English, from Anglo-French ure, eure, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin hora canonical hour, from Latin, hour of the day, from Greek hōra year

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Hour

Words & Phrases Containing Hour

hour angle, hour circle, hour hand, hour-long, hour of need, hour of reckoning, ampere-hour, amp-hour, canonical hour

Frequently Asked Questions about Hour

What does "Hour" mean?

"Hour" means a time or office for daily liturgical devotion; especially, canonical hour. As a noun, it is defined as: a time or office for daily liturgical devotion; especially, canonical hour. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Hour"?

Other words for "Hour" include boiling point, breaking point, clutch, conjuncture, crisis, crossroad(s), crunch and crunch time. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hour" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hour"?

There are 45 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hour". Common alternatives include boiling point, breaking point, clutch, conjuncture, crisis, crossroad(s), crunch, crunch time, Dunkirk and emergency.

How do you use "Hour" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hour" in a sentence: "we're at the zero hour, so someone has to make a decision"; "The killer's life was spared at the eleventh hour.".

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

"Hour" is a noun.

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

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

How do you pronounce "Hour"?

"Hour" is pronounced /ˈau̇(-ə)r/.

What is the origin of the word "Hour"?

"Hour" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French ure, eure, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin hora canonical hour, from Latin, hour of the day, from Greek hōra year. First known use: 13th century.