like an hour

USAGE SUMMARY

"like an hour" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something takes a similar amount of time as an hour, without being an exact hour. Example: "The movie felt like an hour long, but in reality it was only 30 minutes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It feels like somewhere you'd like an hour or two alone to rummage round.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

McLaughlin and Buchanan yell at each other for like, AN HOUR! PORNOGRAPHY!

Huffington Post

An instant that felt like an hour passed before I squeezed the trigger.

The New York Times

An excellent cosplay photograph can go viral in, like, an hour.

Vice

It is like an hour.

The New York Times

Every minute felt like an hour.

The New York Times - Sports

Sounds like an hour of great telly.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

ROBERT: Like an hour or so later..

The New Yorker

It takes, like, an hour to buy cheese.

The New York Times - Food

"He plays unbelievable for like an hour there.

The New York Times - Sports

She was at it for like an hour".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "like an hour" to convey an estimated duration, not necessarily a precise measurement. It is best suited for informal contexts where exactness is not critical.

Common error

Avoid using "like an hour" when precision is needed. If you need to be precise, use an exact time measurement (e.g., "60 minutes") or qualifiers such as "approximately one hour."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "like an hour" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying verbs by describing the duration of an action. Ludwig's examples showcase it being used to describe how long something felt or took, rather than an exact measurement. Ludwig AI confirms that it's usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "like an hour" is a common and grammatically sound way to express an approximate duration, often highlighting subjective experience. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it's particularly prevalent in news and media contexts and less suited for formal or technical writing where precision is key. The AI confirms its usability and suggests alternatives such as "approximately an hour" or "about an hour". When using "like an hour", remember that it provides an estimation rather than a precise timing and is considered neutral to informal. Its versatile function as an adverbial phrase makes it ideal for conveying the feeling of time passing, rather than its exact measurement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately an hour

Replaces the simile with a direct approximation.

about an hour

Similar to 'approximately', but slightly more informal.

roughly an hour

Similar to 'approximately' and 'about', but slightly more formal than 'about'.

almost an hour

Indicates a duration close to, but not quite, a full hour.

nearly an hour

Synonymous with 'almost an hour'.

close to an hour

Emphasizes the proximity to the one-hour mark.

around an hour

Suggests a less precise estimate of the duration.

in the neighborhood of an hour

More verbose and less common way of saying 'around an hour'.

something like an hour

Informal and emphasizes the inexact nature of the duration.

the better part of an hour

Suggests the duration was a significant portion of an hour.

FAQs

How can I use "like an hour" in a sentence?

You can use "like an hour" to describe a duration that is similar to, but not necessarily exactly, 60 minutes. For example, "The meeting felt "like an hour", even though it was only 45 minutes".

What can I say instead of "like an hour"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately an hour", "about an hour", or "almost an hour" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "like an hour"?

"Like an hour" is appropriate in informal contexts where an estimation of time is sufficient. It is less suitable for formal or technical settings where precise timing is required.

Is "like an hour" grammatically correct?

Yes, "like an hour" is grammatically correct. It functions as a simile, comparing a duration to the perceived length of an hour. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.