Opening Hours: Definition, Examples & Usage

Meaning 1：Business hours (Opening hours)

Opening hours 🔊

/ˈoʊpənɪŋ ˈaʊərz/

The times when a place is open to the public, such as a shop or a library.

Business hours 🔊

➕

/ˈbɪznɪs ˈaʊərz/

The specific times during which a business, institution, or facility is open to the public.

📁 Category：Time & Dates 🔖 Level：Beginner

📖 Root Explanation

Compound of 'open' (adj., accessible) + 'hours' (n., time periods).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a door sign: 'Open' plus 'Hours' equals when you can enter.

📖 Example

The new café has extended opening hours until 10 PM on weekends. 🔊 The new café has extended opening hours until 10 PM on weekends.

🔗 Collocations

extend opening hours – to make the open times longer

regular opening hours – the usual times of operation

shorten opening hours – to reduce the open times

🔄 Synonyms

business hours (n.) – the hours when a business is open to customers

operating hours (n.) – the times during which a facility or service functions

hours of operation (n.) – the schedule when an establishment is open

🚫 Antonyms

closing time (n.) – the time when a place ends its business for the day

off hours (n.) – the times when a place is not open to the public

after hours (adv./n.) – the period after the official closing time

📖 Cultural Story

The phrase dates to the 18th century when shops began posting fixed times for public access, replacing earlier flexible schedules.