the clock

noun

1

: a clock that is used in sports and that shows how much time remains for a particular part of a game

They were winning by 2 points with 10 seconds (left) on the clock.

They stopped the (game) clock with eight seconds remaining.

2

: a special clock that is used to record the times when an employee starts and stops working : time clock

I punched the clock at 8:45 and started working right away.

3

chiefly British : a device that shows how far a vehicle has traveled

a car with 100,000 miles on the clock

Examples of the clock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Not only is the rush defense slightly worse than the passing defense, but if the running game is going, the clock is running, and that leaves less time for Purdy to operate on offense. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Fifth-year linebacker Jalen Wood’s sack forced a deep field-goal attempt that missed wide and fifth-year defensive back Mason Rivera’s sack forced the Badgers to punt, putting the final nail in the coffin, as the Bruins ran out the clock. — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

The Panthers, driving right around midfield, were facing a fourth-and-1, let 20-plus seconds go off the clock and then ultimately never ran a play and went to the locker room. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2026

McCown fired a 20-yard touchdown pass to Thomas with 56 seconds left then added the two-point conversion to get within three, but the Lions recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Rhymes for the clock

• alcock
• beanstalk
• bedrock
• boardwalk
• catwalk
• cornstalk
• crosswalk
• deadlock
• feedstock
• fetlock
• flintlock
• goshawk