Peak Hours: Meaning, Examples, and Usage

Meaning 1：busiest hours (peak hours)

peak hours 🔊

/piːk ˈaʊərz/

n. phr.

The busiest hours of the day when traffic is heaviest or services are most used.

Peak hours traffic jam on a busy highway during commute

busiest hours 🔊

➕

/ˈbɪziɪst ˈaʊərz/

n. phr.

The specific time periods during a day when traffic, usage, or demand is at its highest level.

📁 Category：Transportation & Travel 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Peak (point) + hours (time) — the period of highest activity.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a mountain peak at the top of a clock — that's when everything is busiest!

📖 Example

The subway is extremely crowded during peak hours, so I always try to leave a bit earlier. 🔊 The subway is extremely crowded during peak hours, so I always try to leave a bit earlier.

🔗 Collocations

during peak hours – in the busiest time of the day

avoid peak hours – to stay away from the busiest times

peak hours traffic – the heavy traffic experienced during the busiest times

🔄 Synonyms

rush hour (n.) – A time of day when traffic is at its heaviest, typically in the morning and evening.

busy period (n.) – A time when there is a lot of activity or demand.

prime time (n.) – The period when something is most popular or active.

🚫 Antonyms

off-peak hours (n. phr.) – The time periods when demand or traffic is lower.

quiet time (n.) – A period of low activity or noise.

📖 Cultural Story

First used in early 1900s for electric power demand peaks; later applied to traffic and public transport rush times.