hours

¹ British  

/ aʊəz /

plural noun

1. a period regularly or customarily appointed for work, business, etc

2. one's times of rising and going to bed (esp in the phrases keep regular, irregular, or late hours )

3. an indefinite period of time

4. Also called (in the Roman Catholic Church): canonical hours. 

   1. the seven times of the day laid down for the recitation of the prayers of the divine office

   2. the prayers recited at these times

5. the hours just after midnight

6. until very late

---

Hours ² British  

/ aʊəz /

plural noun

1. another word for the Horae

---

Example Sentences

The pair were arrested at their workplaces and spent 22 hours in cells at Grays police station, before later being released with an apology from officers.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

But after undergoing surgery within 16 hours of tearing his Achilles, he recovered in record time to lead another championship chase.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

He has long argued that it isn’t just social media that is the problem, but having kids staring at a digital device for hours a day instead of interacting in the real world.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

The attacks came hours ahead of the second meeting between Lebanon and Israel's US ambassadors in Washington, where Beirut is expected to ask for a ceasefire extension.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

Anna May had told Eleanor that he wouldn’t be back for hours and hours.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu