body clock

noun

: the internal mechanisms that schedule periodic bodily functions and activities
usually not used technically

Examples of body clock in a Sentence

It takes a while for my body clock to get adjusted when I fly from New York to London.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Then keep bedtime consistent from night to night so their body clock stops fighting the alarm. Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026 Six weeks remain to get those body clocks ready for kickoff in Melbourne, Australia. Cam Inman, Mercury News, 29 July 2026 Then, sleep strategically to help your body clock reset. Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 23 June 2026 Your circadian rhythm, also known as your internal body clock, largely influences your natural sleep-wake preferences, known as chronotypes. Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for body clock

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of body clock was in 1916

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Body clock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/body%20clock. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Medical Definition

: the internal mechanisms that schedule bodily functions and activities
not usually used technically
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster