# o'clock

> English word · Adverb · IPA /əˈklɒk/ · frequency rank #6,716

## Definitions
1. In conjunction with a numeral, indicates the time within a twelve-hour period (midnight to noon or noon to midnight), specifically the time when the hour hand of a clock points precisely to the symbol or marking corresponding to the designated numeral, i.e., at the hour.
2. Used to indicate that it is time to do a specific action, or time for a specific action to occur.
3. In conjunction with a numeral, indicates the direction, relative to the speaker or a vehicle, especially an aircraft, corresponding to the direction the hour hand is pointing at the time corresponding to the numeral, with twelve representing directly ahead on a horizontal plane, or directly up on a vertical plane, and three being to the right on either.

## Etymology
Shortened form of "of the clock", from Middle English of the clokke [from late 14th c.].

## Common misspellings (10)
`'oclock`, `o'cclock`, `o'clcok`, `o'cllock`, `o'clocck`, `o'clockk`, `o'clokc`, `o'colck`, `o'lcock`, `oc'lock`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/o-clock