clockwise

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "clockwise" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a direction indicating that something should move, or is moving, in the same direction as the hands on a clock. Example sentence: I spun the toy car in a clockwise direction.

✓ Grammatically correct

General

Technical

Descriptive

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

When the white streaks just start to disappear, add the sabayon and incorporate gently, starting from the centre of the bowl and going up the side, turning the bowl clockwise as you do so.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Of the four books reviewed here, the only one written in China was "Shanghai Baby", by Wei Hui (above right, followed clockwise by Annie Wang, Dai Sijie and Geling Yan).

The Economist

In the ordinary world, a current in such a loop can flow in only one direction at once, either clockwise or anti-clockwise.

The Economist

As people walk clockwise around the building, as prescribed by Buddhist tradition, Nepalese plain-clothes security men mingle among them.Ever since protests in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, were violently suppressed in 2008, Tibetan refugees in Nepal have come under intense pressure from local authorities, closely directed by officials from the Chinese embassy.

The Economist

If the ESC detects that the rear wheels have begun to slide to, say, the right and the vehicle is trying to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction, the system momentarily applies the brakes to the front-right wheel to impart a clockwise spin to counteract the yaw.

The Economist

Others adopted a numbering system for the rooms—such as one slanting line for the first room and two for the second, moving clockwise or anticlockwise through the four rooms.

The Economist

For a spell, different companies ran the clockwise and anti-clockwise trains on the Circle Line, even maintaining separate ticket booths.

The Economist

The finalists are two Canadian marketing professors Darren Dahl at the University of British Columbia and Johanne Brunet at HEC Montreal; Vijay Sethi, who teaches information technology at Nanyang Technical University in Singapore; and Kevin Kaiser, a management-practice professor at INSEAD (pictured above, clockwise from top left).

The Economist

He realised that if Opportunity rotated itself 17.5° clockwise to the drive direction and its camera mast then turned anticlockwise by the same amount, its rear view was unimpeded.

The Economist

A clockwise current, say, might then be used to represent a "one" in the binary code, with an anticlockwise one representing a zero.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The female attendant will give you a faded plastic swipe card to get you through the turnstiles thronged by glum-looking Budapesters intent on sweating away their troubles.Here you will catch a tempting glimpse of the swimming pool to your right, though you get there via a roundabout tunnel worthy of a car park.Swimming is strictly anti-clockwise.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing movement or rotation, use "clockwise" to clearly indicate the direction, especially in technical or instructional contexts. Be mindful of your audience; if clarity is paramount, avoid less common synonyms.

Common error

Ensure you're accurately representing the direction of rotation. Double-check that what you're describing is indeed moving in the same direction as a clock's hands and not the opposite.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "clockwise" is as an adverb, modifying verbs to describe the direction of movement or rotation. As Ludwig AI suggests, it indicates movement in the same direction as the hands of a clock.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

32%

News & Media

25%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

General

10%

Reference

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "clockwise" functions primarily as an adverb to describe movement in the same direction as a clock's hands. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is both grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts. Its usage spans from general descriptions to technical explanations, with high frequency in encyclopedias and news media. When writing, ensure accuracy in directional descriptions to avoid confusion, and consider alternative phrases like "in a clockwise direction" for emphasis. Overall, "clockwise" is a reliable and versatile term for specifying rotational direction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in a clockwise direction

This alternative is a more verbose way of expressing the same directionality.

in a CW manner

This option use the common abbreviation of clockwise, CW

rotating to the right

This alternative is a more descriptive way of expressing the movement.

moving to the right

This focuses on the direction of movement from a top-down perspective.

turning to the right

Highlights the act of turning in a clockwise manner.

dextrorotatory

This is a more technical, scientific term for clockwise rotation.

sunwise

This archaic term refers to the apparent movement of the sun.

in a rightward spiral

Describes a spiraling motion toward the right.

following a right-hand turn

Emphasizes the action of turning rather than continuous motion.

with a deasil motion

This archaic term refers to a sunwise or clockwise motion, particularly in Scottish Gaelic.

FAQs

How can I use "clockwise" in a sentence?

You can use "clockwise" to describe the direction of movement, as in, "Turn the knob "in a clockwise direction"" or "The fan rotated clockwise."

What is the difference between "clockwise" and "counterclockwise"?

"Clockwise" refers to movement in the same direction as a clock's hands, while "counterclockwise" refers to the opposite direction.

What can I say instead of "clockwise"?

You can use alternatives like "in a clockwise direction" or "dextrorotatory" in more technical contexts.

Is it correct to say "move clockwise"?

Yes, it is correct. "Clockwise" can function as an adverb, so saying "move clockwise" is grammatically sound and commonly used.