Meaning & use
counterclockwise
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Meanings
adverbnot comparableAmerican
In a circular direction that is the reverse of the way the hands of a clock turn.
Grammar: Comes after the verb it describes: turn the knob counterclockwise.
Patterns
- turn counterclockwise
- move counterclockwise around something
To loosen the lid, turn it counterclockwise.
The runners went counterclockwise around the track.
In the northern hemisphere, large storms spin counterclockwise.
adjectivebefore a nounAmerican
Moving or arranged in the reverse direction of clock hands.
Grammar: Goes before a noun: a counterclockwise rotation.
Patterns
- a counterclockwise direction
- a counterclockwise turn
The dancers made a full counterclockwise circle.
A counterclockwise turn of the dial lowers the volume.
The fan spins in a counterclockwise direction in summer.
Common combinations
- turn counterclockwise
- Turn the key counterclockwise to unlock the door.
- rotate counterclockwise
- The planet rotates counterclockwise when viewed from above its north pole.
- counterclockwise direction
- The merry-go-round spun in a counterclockwise direction.
- spin counterclockwise
- The skater began to spin counterclockwise.
- counterclockwise rotation
- A counterclockwise rotation loosens most standard screws.
Synonyms and how they differ
- anticlockwise
- Anticlockwise is the usual British form, with exactly the same meaning as American counterclockwise.
- widdershins
- Widdershins is an old, literary word for moving against the sun, and sounds playful or magical next to counterclockwise.
- leftward
- Leftward only names a general direction and does not describe circular motion.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: counterclockwise or clockwise?
counterclockwise vs clockwise
Clockwise follows the hands of a clock, while counterclockwise goes the opposite way. Learners often reverse them.
Practice
A British friend says 'anticlockwise'. What would an American most likely say instead?
Choose one answer.
Counterclockwise is the American form of anticlockwise. Clockwise means the opposite direction.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “counterclockwise”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.