hitch

¹hitch

verb \ˈhich\

Definition of HITCH

transitive verb

1

: to move by jerks or with a tug

2

a : to catch or fasten by or as if by a hook or knot <hitched his horse to the fence post>

b (1) : to connect (a vehicle or implement) with a source of motive power <hitch a rake to a tractor> (2) : to attach (a source of motive power) to a vehicle or instrument <hitch the horses to the wagon>

c : to join in marriage <got hitched>

3

: hitchhike

intransitive verb

1

: to move with halts and jerks : hobble

2

a : to become entangled, made fast, or linked

b : to become joined in marriage

3

: hitchhike

— hitch·er noun

Examples of HITCH

1. hitch a trailer to a car
2. He hitched across the country last summer.
3. He hitched his way across the country last summer.

Origin of HITCH

Middle English hytchen

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to HITCH

Synonyms

buck, jerk, hoick, jolt, twitch, yank

Antonyms

disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, disunite, separate, unchain, uncouple, unhitch, unlink, unyoke

Related Words

bump, jounce, lurch, pitch, stagger; jig, jiggle, jog, joggle, shake; drag, lug, pull, tug; pluck, tweak; grab, rip, snap (up), snatch, tear, wrench, wrest, wring

Near Antonyms

detach, disengage, divide, part, split; cleave, rupture, sever, sunder

Rhymes with HITCH

bitch, ditch, fitch, flitch, glitch, itch, kitsch, niche, pitch, quitch, rich, snitch, stitch, such, switch, twitch, which, witch

²hitch

noun

Definition of HITCH

1

: limp

2

: a sudden movement or pull : jerk <gave his trousers a hitch>

3

a : a sudden halt : stoppage

b : a usually unforeseen difficulty or obstacle <the plan went off without a hitch>

4

: the act or fact of catching hold

5

: a connection between a vehicle or implement and a detachable source of power (as a tractor or horse)

6

: a delimited period especially of military service

7

: any of various knots used to form a temporary noose in a line or to secure a line temporarily to an object

8

: lift 5b

Examples of HITCH

1. The plan went off without a hitch.
2. He went back to college after doing his hitch in the army.
3. a seven-year hitch at the newspaper

First Known Use of HITCH

1664

Related to HITCH

Synonyms

booby trap, catch, catch-22, gimmick, gotcha, pitfall, joker, land mine, snag

Related Words

snare, trap, trip wire, web; hazard, peril, risk; bomb, bombshell, kicker, surprise (also surprize); bait, decoy, lure