hourly

1 of 2

adverb

hour·​ly ˈau̇(-ə)r-lē 

: at or during every hour

also : frequently, continually

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

Synonyms of hourly

Adverb

• often
• constantly
• frequently
• repeatedly
• continually

Examples of hourly in a Sentence

Adverb

she checks her phone for messages hourly

Recent Examples on the Web

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

No one can afford to clock in and clock out, leaving their co-stars to do the heavy lifting (not showing for the first dinner of a cast trip is the equivalent of time theft at an hourly job), especially not budget Frick and Frack. —Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 11 May 2026

Soon after taking over, Black Bear raised its hourly ice rates on Kensington Valley Hockey Association, the youth nonprofit that has rented ice time from the rink for years, from $320 to $370 an hour, said Caryn Michalak, a board member – a 15% jump. —Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 7 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for hourly

• sourly

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