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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Manny’s Deli in the South Loop, the 95th Street Red Line at rush hour, and a polling place in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side. — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026 Rain should be out of here just ahead of the Thursday morning rush hour. — Ron Smiley, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026 Uber’s practice of lifting fares when demand outstrips the supply of available drivers, such as during rush hour, is a type of dynamic pricing known as surge pricing. — Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026 Uber's practice of lifting fares when demand outstrips the supply of available drivers, such as during rush hour, is a type of dynamic pricing known as surge pricing. — Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rush hour

Word History

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rush hour was in 1878

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rush hour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rush%20hour. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

Kids Definition

rush hour

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