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
While on the clock, her team members updated spreadsheets, cross-referenced documents or did investigative work.
—
ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
The occasion was the 25th anniversary of The Wall Group, Brooke Wall’s styling agency, and Delilah — all low lights, curved leather banquettes and old-school supper-club mood — was full of hair stylists, makeup artists and wardrobe pros temporarily off the clock, though hardly off-brand.
—Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
The change will allow officials to hold the same office for four 4-year terms, with the clock starting at the next municipal election.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Around the clock, the satellites autonomously dodge one another—and other satellites as well—to avoid collisions that could produce thousands of pieces of space debris.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the clock
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ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
The occasion was the 25th anniversary of The Wall Group, Brooke Wall’s styling agency, and Delilah — all low lights, curved leather banquettes and old-school supper-club mood — was full of hair stylists, makeup artists and wardrobe pros temporarily off the clock, though hardly off-brand.
—Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
The change will allow officials to hold the same office for four 4-year terms, with the clock starting at the next municipal election.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Around the clock, the satellites autonomously dodge one another—and other satellites as well—to avoid collisions that could produce thousands of pieces of space debris.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the clock
Cite this Entry
“The clock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20clock. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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