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hourly

adj. · adv. · n.
US //ˈaʊɹɫi// UK //ˈaʊəli// hourly
  1. 1 happening every hour (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    happening or done once every hour.

    occurring, performed, or appearing at intervals of sixty minutes.

    Example

    The hotel provides an hourly shuttle bus to the airport for guests.

    Example

    The weather station provides hourly updates on wind speed and atmospheric pressure to help pilots navigate the storm front.
  2. 2 paid by the hour (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    describing a job where you are paid for each hour you work, rather than a fixed monthly salary.

    relating to a wage or employment status where compensation is calculated based on hours worked.

    Example

    Many students look for hourly work during the summer holidays.

    Example

    The company transitioned several administrative roles from salaried positions to hourly contracts to better manage fluctuating seasonal demand.
    • unsalaried
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  1. 3 done every hour (adv.)
    B1 Intermediate

    happening at intervals of one hour.

    at intervals of an hour; frequently used to describe repeated actions or measurements.

    Example

    The nurse checked the patient's temperature hourly throughout the night.

    Example

    The automated system backs up the database hourly to ensure that no more than sixty minutes of data can be lost in a crash.
  2. 4 an hourly worker (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English

    a person who is paid for each hour they work.

    an employee whose compensation is based on an hourly rate rather than a fixed salary.

    Example

    The manager met with the hourlies to discuss the new weekend schedule.

    Example

    The union representative argued that the hourlies deserved a higher overtime premium given the hazardous conditions of the factory floor.

    Usage

    Usually used in the plural to refer to a group of workers.
    • wage earner
Origin

From hour + -ly.

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