rush hour

noun

: a period of the day when the demands especially of traffic or business are at a peak

Examples of rush hour in a Sentence

We got caught in the morning rush hour.

Recent Examples on the Web

This can happen during a wildfire, a dust storm, a high pollen day, a high mold spore day, in an area with industrial pollution, or in an urban area during rush hour. —Jamie Friedlander Serrano, Time, 27 Jan. 2026

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority meanwhile said that subways and buses would run a normal rush hour service this morning, with the Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road on a weekend service. —Helen Graham, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026

At rush hour, the Brown and Purple Line trains are overflowing with riders, forcing people to delay their trips. —Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026

For more than three months after her disappearance, the Kesse family also stood at the intersection of John Young Parkway and Conroy Road at rush hour, waving signs with Jennifer’s photo to the long line of drivers. —Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rush hour

• bower
• cower
• dour
• flour
• flower
• fower
• glower
• our
• power
• scour
• shower
• sour

Kids Definition

rush hour

noun

: a period of the day when traffic is very heavy or business is very brisk