hour hand

noun

: the short hand that marks the hours on the face of a watch or clock

Examples of hour hand in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The local hour hand is independently adjustable for quick setting. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 23 Aug. 2023 Lay the watch on a flat surface with the hour hand pointing toward the sun. Jerome B. Robinson, Field & Stream, 29 June 2023 Mark a spot halfway between the hour hand and 12 o'clock. Jerome B. Robinson, Field & Stream, 29 June 2023 If an image is reversed, an hour hand that appears to be to the left of six o’clock is actually to the right. Peter Hessler, The New Yorker, 26 June 2023 Thread the two together, and glue the minute hand to the dowel and the hour hand to the PVC. Lara Sorokanich, Popular Mechanics, 4 Oct. 2022 For analog timepieces, be prepared to crank the hour hand ahead by 60 minutes before going to bed Saturday night. Ginger Adams Otis, WSJ, 11 Mar. 2022 The hour hand pointed to four. Robert Pearl, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2021 The cathedral style hour hand is what makes all the difference. Christian Gollayan, Men's Health, 7 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hour hand.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1669, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hour hand was in 1669

Dictionary Entries Near hour hand

Cite this Entry

“Hour hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hour%20hand. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hour hand

noun
: the short hand that marks the hours on the face of a watch or clock
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