Word
clockwork
Phoneticsclock·work, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɫɑˌkwɝk/
UK/klˈɒkwɜːk/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the inner parts of a clock or watch that make it work. It is also used to describe a system that works perfectly and regularly.
n. the internal mechanism of a clock or watch, consisting of a system of gears and springs. Often used metaphorically to describe a process that functions with extreme regularity and precision.
Examples
“The old toy still runs on a simple clockwork mechanism.”
“The logistics team managed the entire event like clockwork, ensuring every speaker started exactly on time.”
“Restoring the antique timepiece required a steady hand and a deep understanding of eighteenth-century clockwork, as many of the original brass gears had worn thin.”
Examples
simple
“The old toy still runs on a simple clockwork mechanism.”
contextual
“The logistics team managed the entire event like clockwork, ensuring every speaker started exactly on time.”
complex
“Restoring the antique timepiece required a steady hand and a deep understanding of eighteenth-century clockwork, as many of the original brass gears had worn thin.”
Usage
Often used in the prepositional phrase 'like clockwork' to describe a reliable or predictable event.
Real-World Examples
“And if the material itself is broadly one-note, this is still a fine-tuned production that runs like clockwork.” “Every other Wednesday, like clockwork, my salary arrives in my bank account.” “But to get anything close to the Antikythera Mechanism's sophistication you have to wait until the fourteenth century, when mechanical clockwork appeared all over western Europe.” “An ancient piece of clockwork shows the deep roots of modern technology” Etymology
From clock + -work.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
In Literature
A Clockwork Orange · 1962-01-01 · Black comedy, dystopian fiction
- Author:
- Anthony Burgess
Anthony Burgess’s 1962 dystopian novel explores the tension between human free will and state-mandated behavior. The title refers to the idea of a living being turned into a mechanical object that functions like clockwork, following a rigid, programmed path. Through the violent protagonist Alex, the story questions whether a person forced to be good is truly human or merely a predictable machine.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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