Phrase guide

clock in

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To begin working time, especially by punching in (entering a workplace by punching a time card with the time clock).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

Examples

  • We clocked in at 7:30, but didn't actually do any work until at least 8.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To be measured at.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Big Joe clocks in at 384 pounds, far outweighing his opponent.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

register one's arrival at work

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: punch in, clock on

Antonyms: clock out

Broader terms: record, enter, put down

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: embaucher — to begin working time
  • Swedish: stämpla in — to begin working time
  • Catalan: fitxar — to enter a workplace by punching a timecard; punch in
  • Finnish: leimata sisään — to enter a workplace by punching a timecard; punch in
  • French: pointer — to enter a workplace by punching a timecard; punch in
  • Galician: fichar — to enter a workplace by punching a timecard; punch in
  • German: stempeln — to enter a workplace by punching a timecard; punch in
  • Italian: timbrare — to enter a workplace by punching a timecard; punch in
  • Italian: timbrare il cartellino — to enter a workplace by punching a timecard; punch in
  • Malay: merakamkan waktu masuk — to enter a workplace by punching a timecard; punch in
  • Portuguese: picar o ponto — to enter a workplace by punching a timecard; punch in
  • Portuguese: bater ponto/bater o ponto — to enter a workplace by punching a timecard; punch in
  • Finnish: olla — to be measured at