hourly

1 of 2

adverb

hour·​ly ˈau̇(-ə)r-lē How to pronounce hourly (audio)
Synonyms of hourlynext
: at or during every hour

hourly

2 of 2

adjective

1
a
: occurring hour by hour
hourly bus service
b
: frequent, continual
in hourly expectation of the rain's stopping
2
: computed in terms of an hour
an hourly wage
3
: paid by the hour
hourly workers

Examples of hourly in a Sentence

Adverb she checks her phone for messages hourly
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
The hashtag #HantaVirusHoax was filling up with new posts hourly, many from accounts that had run nearly identical playbooks during Covid, mpox, and bird flu. Katrine Wallace, STAT, 8 May 2026 The beach shuttle allegedly runs hourly; reality probably leans toward every 90 minutes. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Four major branches -- Port Washington, Huntington, Ronkonkoma and Babylon -- started having hourly service at noon. Elijah Westbrook, CBS News, 19 May 2026 Furthermore, Jobbers found that freelancers who price their services based on value rather than an hourly rate earn considerably more money (a median income of $96,000 versus $58,000). Chelsea Tobin, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for hourly

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of hourly was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hourly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hourly. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

hourly

adjective
hour·​ly
ˈau̇(ə)r-lē
1
: occurring every hour
hourly bus service
2
: figured in terms of one hour
hourly wages
hourly adverb

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