happy hour

noun

: a period of time during which the price of drinks (as at a bar) is reduced or hors d'oeuvres are served free

Example Sentences

Happy hour runs from 5:00 to 7:00.
Recent Examples on the Web Menu prices range from $15 to $25 for lunch, $10 to $15 for happy hour, and $20 to $35 for both brunch and dinner. Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2023 Opening beer cans for Orioles fans during Saturday’s Birdland Caravan happy hour, Adley Rutschman got hasty, prompting a Checkerspot Brewing Company employee to jokingly remind him to make sure the patrons paid for their drinks. Nathan Ruiz, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2023 Think of it as an analogue for tea time, or even a happy hour. Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2022 The drinks can be ordered anytime, but are discounted from $14 to $12 at happy hour. Jess Lander, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Oct. 2022 This pair's chic suede finish transitions well from the office to happy hour. Jacqueline Saguin, Good Housekeeping, 17 Aug. 2022 And there is even wine at happy hour. Françoise Mouly, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022 Additionally, the organization noted that more people are turning to Champagne during smaller, more untraditional moments, such as after-work happy hours or meals with family and friends. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2023 The family-run restaurant is still fairly easy on the wallet outside of happy hour, with crowd-pleasers including 24-piece sushi platters, 32-count sashimi plates and $3 hand rolls. Brooke Viggiano, Chron, 16 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'happy hour.' 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

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of happy hour was in 1959

Dictionary Entries Near happy hour

Cite this Entry

“Happy hour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happy%20hour. Accessed 2 Jun. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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