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.
Crean said parts of Simonton, Petronia and Olivia streets were closed during rush hour because of the investigation. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025 On weekday mornings, when pedestrians would activate the signal during rush hour, roughly 10 cars would usually be backed up down a side street. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 23 May 2025 Having only three operating tubes will severely curtail service, requiring the elimination of 25% of all Amtrak trips between Penn and Albany and 10% of the peak inbound rush hour trips on the LIRR. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2025 Also wiped out will be 10% of peak rush hour trains into Penn on the LIRR, hurting constituents of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rush hour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rush%20hour. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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
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