a.m.
gb/ˈeɪˈɛm/ us/ˈeɪˈɛm/
A1
English
~ 9300
Senses
0 senses
adverb
A1
relation
1
before noon on a 12-hour clock
Used after a clock time to say that it is in the morning, between 12:00 at night and 12:00 in the day.
Usage pattern:
at [number] a.m.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "a.m." with the verb "am" (the first person singular of "to be"). Remember that "a.m." is only used with times to show morning hours, usually with numbers (e.g., "7 a.m."). Another mistake is mixing up "a.m." and "p.m."; "a.m." is from midnight to just before noon, while "p.m." is from noon to just before midnight. Spelling can vary ("a.m.", "A.M.", or "AM"), but do not write it without periods if your style guide requires them.
Synonyms
before noon (Describes the same general part of the day but is less precise and not tied to clock format.)
Antonyms
p.m. (Marks times from noon to midnight, the opposite half of the 12-hour clock.)
Collocations
at 7 a.m.
|3:30 a.m.
|early a.m.
|a.m. hours
|a.m. flight
|a.m. meeting
Themes
daily life
|time
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The train leaves at 6:15 a.m., so we need to get up early.
- She usually checks her email around 8 a.m. before starting work.
- He woke up at 3 a.m. because of the storm.
- Our flight is at 11:45 a.m., just before noon.
- The store opens at 9 a.m. on weekdays.
Learner examples
- I get up at 7 a.m. on school days.
- The meeting starts at 10 a.m.
- We arrived at the hotel at 1 a.m.
- The bus comes at 5:30 a.m.
- She called me at 2 a.m.
Grammar
Expressions
a.m. hours
1/ˈeɪˈɛm ˈaʊɚz/
fixed phrase
all hours before noon
All the clock hours between midnight and noon.
Examples
- The noise continued through the a.m. hours and kept the neighbors awake.
- Police reported several calls during the a.m. hours after the storm.
early a.m.
1/ˈɚli ˈeɪˈɛm/
fixed phrase
very early morning hours
The very early hours of the morning, soon after midnight.
Examples
- The accident happened in the early a.m., around 2:30.
- We drove through the night and arrived in the early a.m.
in the a.m.
1/ˈɪn ðə ˈeɪˈɛm/
fixed phrase
informal
during the morning hours
In the morning, before 12:00 in the day.
Examples
- Let’s finish the report in the a.m. when everyone is fresh.
- I usually work out in the a.m. before breakfast.
late a.m.
1/lˈeɪt ˈeɪˈɛm/
fixed phrase
near noon in the morning
The time close to 12:00 in the day, but still in the morning.
Examples
- The package should arrive in the late a.m., between 11 and 12.
- We booked our appointment for the late a.m. to avoid rush hour.