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Rush hour

/ˈrʌʃ ˌaʊ.ər/
nounCEFR B1 (Intermediate)Top #3400 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A period of time during the day when traffic congestion is at its highest due to a large number of people traveling to or from work.

    "During rush hour, the subway is often packed with commuters."
  2. 2

    A time when a large number of people are engaged in a particular activity, leading to increased demand or congestion.

    "The restaurant was busy during the lunch rush hour."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the combination of 'rush' (meaning a sudden rapid movement or flow, from Old French 'ruser') and 'hour' (from Anglo-Norman 'houre', ultimately from Greek 'hōra'). The term emerged in the late 19th century to describe the peak times of day when traffic congestion and commuter transit reach their maximum capacity.

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