counterclockwise

American  

[koun-ter-klok-wahyz] / ˌkaʊn tərˈklɒkˌwaɪz /

adjective

1. in a direction opposite to that of the normal rotation of the hands of a clock; not clockwise.

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counterclockwise British  

/ ˌkaʊntəˈklɒkˌwaɪz /

adverb

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): anticlockwise.  in the opposite direction to the rotation of the hands of a clock

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Etymology

Origin of counterclockwise

First recorded in 1885–90; counter- + clockwise

Compare meaning

How does counterclockwise compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• clockwise vs. counterclockwise

Example Sentences

These vortices form in pairs that rotate in opposite directions, with one spinning clockwise and the other counterclockwise.

From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2026

In a storm like this, the winds move counterclockwise, Bassill added.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

The weather service office in Oxnard said the storm could rotate counterclockwise in that area, which could produce a small tornado.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2025

The dance opens with Abraham in a running solo, winding around the stage in counterclockwise circles.

From New York Times • Dec. 4, 2024

For example, if you moved counterclockwise by three keys, put the capo at the third fret.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

Related Words

• revolving