internal clock
noun
1
: a system in the body that controls when a person needs to sleep, eat, etc.
The long trip upset my internal clock and I had a hard time getting to sleep.
2
: a clock or timing device that is inside a computer
Examples of internal clock in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the evening, decrease light exposure by dimming lights at home and reducing time in front of screens to shift the body's internal clock earlier.
—
Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 15 June 2026
Crossing several time zones throws that internal clock out of sync, so your gut’s timing no longer matches your destination.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
Natural light helps regulate your circadian rhythm—aka, your body’s internal clock that governs sleep-wake cycles and the production of hormones like melatonin.
—Allison Forsyth, Health, 9 June 2026
Key Takeaways Your body has an internal clock and reflexes that make morning the most common time to have a bowel movement (poop).
—Brandi Jones, Verywell Health, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for internal clock
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Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 15 June 2026
Crossing several time zones throws that internal clock out of sync, so your gut’s timing no longer matches your destination.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
Natural light helps regulate your circadian rhythm—aka, your body’s internal clock that governs sleep-wake cycles and the production of hormones like melatonin.
—Allison Forsyth, Health, 9 June 2026
Key Takeaways Your body has an internal clock and reflexes that make morning the most common time to have a bowel movement (poop).
—Brandi Jones, Verywell Health, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for internal clock
Cite this Entry
“Internal clock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/internal%20clock. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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