[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/anticlockwise/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [A](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/a/) / anticlockwise

# anticlockwise

adverb and adjective (anticlockwise) — UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ; US and Canada say «counterclockwise»

«anticlockwise» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Anticlockwise means turning in the opposite direction to the hands of a clock: from 12 towards 9, then 6, then 3. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/anticlockwise/#m1)
2. As an adjective it describes that direction («an anticlockwise turn»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/anticlockwise/#m2)

### In the lessons

In maths lessons on turns, angles and rotation, shapes are turned clockwise or anticlockwise by a quarter, half or three-quarter turn. In everyday life you turn many lids and taps anticlockwise to open them («lefty loosey»). In PE and dance, children move round the circle anticlockwise.

### Examples

- Turn the jar lid anticlockwise to open it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/anticlockwise/#x1)
- Rotate the triangle a quarter turn anticlockwise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/anticlockwise/#x2)
- We ran anticlockwise round the track. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/anticlockwise/#x3)
- The roundabout in the UK goes clockwise, but in the USA traffic goes counterclockwise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/anticlockwise/#x4)
- Turn the tap anticlockwise to let the water out. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/anticlockwise/#x5)
- Draw the arrow showing an anticlockwise turn. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/anticlockwise/#x6)
- Stir the paint anticlockwise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/anticlockwise/#x7)

### Note

Written as one word; some write «anti-clockwise». US/Canada: counterclockwise. In maths a quarter turn = 90 degrees, a half turn = 180, a three-quarter turn anticlockwise is the same as a quarter turn clockwise.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «anticlockwise» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/anticlockwise/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«anticlockwise» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/anticlockwise.html) on Mova free.