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

Once certified, Rivera said electricians can expect to start with earnings between $28 to $30 per hour, while apprentice plumbers generally make between $32 and $35 hourly. —Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026

Many are running hourly or half-hourly services. —Elijah Westbrook, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026

Adjective

Turnover can be expensive for restaurant owners, costing them more than $2,700 per hourly worker, according to data from Black Box Intelligence. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026

About Lowe’s employee bonuses Ellison also announced that Lowe’s is giving $125 million in discretionary bonuses to all hourly store and distribution center employees. —Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 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