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

Walmart also noted that the average hourly starting wage is $16. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

This estimates how much a full-time worker must earn hourly to afford a rental home at HUD’s fair market rent without spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs. — Gagandeep Singh, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Media production is no different; cloud playout and remote editing carry the same meters, egress fees, hourly licensing and the question of where your data actually lives. — Kevin Henneman, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Not everyone can afford a law firm’s pricey retainer or hourly rate when a legal issue comes up. — Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 23 Sep. 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