In the same direction in which the hands of a clock move; from left to right in the upper half of the circle.
example
Bitte drehen Sie den Deckel im Uhrzeigersinn, um die Flasche zu schließen.
Please turn the cap clockwise to close the bottle.
Usage tips
Compound word
The word is logically structured: it consists of 'Uhrzeiger' (the hand of a clock) and 'Sinn' (here in the sense of 'direction'). So it literally means 'in the direction of the clock hand.'
EXAMPLE
Um das Glas zu öffnen, musst du den Deckel gegen den Uhrzeigersinn drehen.
To open the jar, you have to turn the lid counterclockwise.
Fixed expression
'Uhrzeigersinn' (clockwise direction) is used almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'im Uhrzeigersinn' (clockwise). This combination functions in a sentence like an adverb that indicates a direction.
EXAMPLE
Die Teilnehmer sollen sich im Uhrzeigersinn im Kreis aufstellen.
The participants should line up in a circle clockwise.
The opposite direction
To express the opposite direction, the preposition 'gegen' (against) is used instead of 'im' (in the): 'gegen den Uhrzeigersinn' (counterclockwise). Note that the article and ending also change here.
EXAMPLE
Drehe die Schraube im Uhrzeigersinn, um sie festzuziehen.