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Language Foundation

clock out

To clock out is to record on a time clock the time at which you stop work.

In plain English

This means officially noting the exact time a person finishes working. The time is entered into a work time-recording system as the end of that period of work.

In context

Here, it requests the recording of the time at which the work period ends.

Situation
Managing schedules, shifts, attendance, leave, timesheets, and availability
What it communicates
Button for recording the end of a work period.

Meaning limits

By itself, the term says only that the stopping time is recorded, not why the work stopped or what follows from that record.

Examples

“After stacking the last box, the worker clocked out at 6:00.”

Core meaning

“Please clock out when your work for the day is finished.”

In context

  • punch out Near Synonym

    In this sense, both refer to recording the end of a work period on a time clock.

  • clock in Opposite

    It refers to recording the time when work begins, not when it ends.