rush hour

noun

: a period of the day when the demands especially of traffic or business are at a peak

Examples of rush hour in a Sentence

We got caught in the morning rush hour.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The metro areas of three Indian cities — Bengaluru, Mumbai and Pune — rank in the top 10 on the TomTom Traffic Index for 2023, which analyzes congestion levels and rush hour speeds in cities around the world. Monica Pitrelli, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2024 Even on weekdays, roads to scenic aspen byways nearest the Front Range have become nearly as congested as Denver city streets during rush hour. Krista Kafer, The Denver Post, 3 Oct. 2024 Imagine trying to drive through a city during rush hour. Ayush Gupta, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024 This spring, a pending congestion-pricing plan, which would have charged car drivers fifteen dollars during rush hour to drive below Sixtieth Street, became an object of ire for suburban New Yorkers. Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rush hour 

Word History

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rush hour was in 1878

Dictionary Entries Near rush hour

Cite this Entry

“Rush hour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rush%20hour. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

rush hour

noun
: a period of the day when traffic is very heavy or business is very brisk
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!