hourly
OW-uh-lee
Hourly (adj) means happening once every hour. Example: “The buses run on an hourly schedule.”
adj
1
Happening once every hour.
"The buses run on an hourly schedule."
"The museum offers an hourly guided tour of the old castle."
"Check the hourly forecast before you decide to go for a walk."
2
Paid by the hour rather than salaried.
"Most of the warehouse staff are hourly workers."
"She took an hourly job at the cafe while she studied."
"Hourly employees get extra pay if they work on a bank holiday."
adv
1
Once every hour; at hourly intervals.
"The nurse checked his vitals hourly through the night."
How to use hourly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOccurring, or paid, every hour.
Common pairings
hourly rate
hourly wage
hourly update
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Word forms
- Plural
- hourlies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The buses run on an _____ schedule.
Etymology
From hour + -ly.
Synonyms
View more →
per hour
by the hour
every hour
Rhymes for hourly
See all rhymes for hourly →Frequently asked questions
What does “hourly” mean?
The word “hourly” means happening once every hour. In plain terms, occurring, or paid, every hour.
How do you pronounce “hourly”?
“Hourly” is pronounced OW-uh-lee (/ˈaʊ̯ɚli/ in IPA).
How do you use “hourly” in a sentence?
Here is “hourly” used in a sentence: “The buses run on an hourly schedule.”
What part of speech is “hourly”?
Depending on how it is used, “hourly” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Is “hourly” a common word?
“Hourly” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “hourly” have?
“Hourly” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: happening once every hour.
What is the difference between hourly and salaried pay?
Hourly pay means an employee is paid a set rate for each hour worked, so their total pay varies with hours worked, while salaried pay means a fixed amount is paid regardless of the exact hours worked.
What does hourly mean when describing a bus or train schedule?
An hourly bus or train service runs once every hour, so passengers can expect a departure at the same point in each hour rather than at irregular intervals.
Is hourly used as both an adjective and an adverb?
Yes. As an adjective it describes something happening every hour or paid by the hour, as in 'an hourly wage,' while as an adverb it describes how often something happens, as in 'buses run hourly.'
