What does clockwise mean?
Clockwise describes movement in the same direction as the hands of a traditional analog clock travel: starting at the top and curving to the right. It works both as an adjective, as in 'a clockwise rotation', and as an adverb, as in 'twist the cap clockwise'. Because so many everyday tasks involve turning things — jar lids, screws, valves, combination locks — clockwise is one of the most practically useful directional words in English, appearing constantly in instructions and manuals. Its opposite is 'counterclockwise' (American) or 'anticlockwise' (British). The word is a compound of 'clock' plus the suffix '-wise', meaning 'in the manner of', and dates from the late nineteenth century, after standardized mechanical clocks had made the direction of their hands universally familiar. Interestingly, the convention itself traces back to sundials in the Northern Hemisphere, whose shadows sweep in that direction — meaning the very concept of 'clockwise' is a legacy of how the sun moves across the sky.
Moving or rotating in the same direction as the hands of a clock.
"Turn the key clockwise to lock the door."
The most frequent usage in everyday instructions.
Situated, directed, or arranged in the direction of a clock's hands.
"Give the dial a clockwise twist to increase the volume."
Before mechanical clocks spread, there was no universal 'clockwise' — which way was 'forward' depended entirely on which way your sundial's shadow fell.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of clockwise
Clockwise is formed from 'clock' combined with the suffix '-wise', which means 'in the manner or direction of'. The word emerged in the late nineteenth century, once mechanical clocks were widespread enough for their hands' motion to serve as a universal reference for rotational direction. The underlying notion derives from earlier timekeeping: sundial shadows in the Northern Hemisphere sweep the same way, which is why clocks came to be built with hands moving in that direction. It belongs to a productive family of '-wise' directional compounds such as 'likewise' and 'otherwise', though those carry more figurative senses.
How clockwise is actually used
Common in both formal technical writing and everyday instruction. British English also uses 'anticlockwise' where American English prefers 'counterclockwise'; both are exact opposites of 'clockwise'. The word functions identically as an adjective ('a clockwise turn') and as an adverb ('turn it clockwise').
Easily confused with clockwise
Counterclockwise means movement in the opposite direction to a clock's hands (to the left from the top), while clockwise means movement following the direction of a clock's hands.
'Wise' means having good judgment, whereas '-wise' here is a suffix meaning 'in the manner of' — 'clockwise' describes direction of rotation, not intelligence.