Clockwise

How to spell clockwise

9 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce clockwise

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does clockwise mean?

1. adverbIn the direction in which the hands of a clock move, from the top toward the right and around.
2. adjectiveMoving or arranged in the direction that a clock's hands travel.

Clockwise in a sentence

• adverb

  Turn the dial clockwise to increase the volume.

• adjective

  The gears use a clockwise rotation to drive the belt.

• adverb

  The runners circled the track clockwise for the warm-up lap.

• adjective

  A gentle clockwise motion spreads the polish evenly.

Where does clockwise come from?

Language of origin: Germanic

This word is a fairly modern English compound, recorded from the late 1800s, built simply from 'clock' plus the old suffix '-wise'. The suffix '-wise' descends from Old English 'wise', meaning a way, manner, or fashion, and the same element survives in words such as 'likewise', 'otherwise', and 'lengthwise'. The 'clock' part traces back through Middle English to the Middle Dutch 'clocke' and Medieval Latin 'clocca', meaning a bell, since early public clocks announced the hours by ringing. So 'clockwise' literally means 'in the manner of a clock', describing the direction in which a traditional clock's hands sweep, from the top toward the right and around. The spelling is regular and rarely a problem, since both halves are familiar everyday words.

How the word is built

• clock (timepiece)
• -wise (in the manner or direction of)