office hours
office hours — phrase
1. the part of the day when an office is normally open and staff are expected to be
the part of the day when an office is normally open and staff are expected to be working there
During office hours, Hana can reach the housing office by phone.
during office hours
Rodrigo called after office hours and heard only the recorded message.
after office hours
Our team answers billing emails only during office hours on weekdays.
only during office hours
The courier left the parcel outside because office hours had ended.
- during office hours
- after office hours
- normal office hours
- office hours end at ...
- business hours
is the closest term for the hours when a company is open for normal work
- working hours
often focuses on the hours employees work, not customer access
- opening hours
fits shops and public services more than internal office work
- after-hours
describes time outside the usual working period
- off-hours
also means a time when normal work is not happening
Grammar Patterns
during office hours
after office hours
office hours end at ...
Usage Note
Usually refers to the normal working time of a business or office. Common with during, before, and after when you talk about calls, visits, or replies.
Common Mistakes
2. set times when a teacher, doctor, or other professional stays in an office so pe
set times when a teacher, doctor, or other professional stays in an office so people can come in and speak with them
Professor Chen posts her office hours beside the classroom door every Monday.
Professor Chen's office hours
Otis brought his lab report to Dr. Park during office hours on Tuesday.
during office hours
Noa missed the dean's office hours and had to email instead.
miss office hours
The website lists counseling office hours for students who need private advice.
- hold office hours
- office hours are on Tuesday
- post office hours
- the dean's office hours
- consultation hours
is more formal and common in university or medical notices
- reception hours
is used in some institutions for times when visitors are received
- drop-in time
is more informal and stresses that people may come without a booking
Grammar Patterns
Professor Chen's office hours
hold office hours
miss office hours
Usage Note
Often follows a person's title or a department name. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about one person's regular meeting period, not the general workday of an office.
Common Mistakes
Etymology
This phrase joins office, a word for a place where professional work is done, with hours, a word for measured parts of the day. In modern English it first named the usual time when office staff are at work, and later also came to mean the fixed times when a teacher, doctor, or similar professional is available to meet people in an office.