stitch

1 of 2

noun

1
: a local sharp and sudden pain especially in the side
2
a
: one in-and-out movement of a threaded needle in sewing, embroidering, or suturing
b
: a portion of thread left in the material or suture left in the tissue after one stitch
3
: a least bit especially of clothing
didn't have a stitch on
4
: a single loop of thread or yarn around an implement (such as a knitting needle or crochet hook)
5
: a stitch or series of stitches formed in a particular way
a basting stitch

stitch

2 of 2

verb

stitched; stitching; stitches

transitive verb

1
a
: to fasten, join, or close with or as if with stitches
stitched a seam
b
: to make, mend, or decorate with or as if with stitches
2
: to unite by means of staples
stitcher noun
Phrases
in stitches
: in a state of uncontrollable laughter
he had us all in stitches

Examples of stitch in a Sentence

Noun the stitches on a baseball She pulled out the stitches. His cut required six stitches. She gets her stitches removed tomorrow. The book teaches a variety of stitches. a scarf worked in knit stitch Verb He stitched a patch onto his coat. Her initials were stitched on the pillowcase. He stitched a design along the border of the tablecloth.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The mouth laceration required six stitches and Martin was unable to speak to reporters following the game. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024 Johnson returned late in the third quarter with Utah trailing by 24 points, then played 36 minutes in a bounce-back win at USC when she was hit again and needed more stitches. Jeff Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024 During the show, the phone hit Rexha on the forehead, splitting her eyebrow and requiring stitches. Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024 Defenseman Ryan Lindgren, who needed stitches under his left eye during Sunday’s game, also assisted on Fox’s ninth goal. Allan Kreda, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2024 In one post, Snoop shared a video of him with Worthington and others at a cemetery, where the latter cracked a joke that had everyone in stitches. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2024 Best man confesses at brother's wedding 02:06 - Source: CNN Wedding speech leaves groom speechless A confession by the groom’s brother during his wedding speech left guests in stitches! Andrew Torgan, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024 Remarkably, the bullet had only grazed Tolokonnikova’s scalp, which required stitches in hospital. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 9 Feb. 2024 In three grueling road games, Grand Canyon sophomore center Duke Brennan needed stitches for a cut on his elbow and for a cut on his face. Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 30 Jan. 2024
Verb
In the year since Chlöe Bailey released her debut solo album In Pieces, she’s stitched herself back together after weathering complication external perceptions. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024 Shelby’s iconic signature is displayed above the glove box and stitched into the floor mats. Howard Walker, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2024 Faced with these realities, as all makers of leading-edge processors are now, Intel broke Clearwater Forest’s system down into its core functions, chose the best-fit technology to build each, and stitched them back together using a suite of new technical tricks. IEEE Spectrum, 21 Feb. 2024 Orange resorts to cliffhangers to stitch sections together. Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024 My mother stitched them with colorful designs, working at a sewing machine that could be heard echoing throughout the house in the evenings. Hanif Abdurraqib, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2024 Some of the team insignias and logos are no longer stitched directly onto the jersey, giving them less of a classy, throwback feel. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2024 Some use the term for the cushioned lining that’s stitched or glued into a shoe to prevent the foot from striking a harsh surface. Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Feb. 2024 There were no loose strings or stitching inconsistencies on the initial inspection, and both the sheets and pillowcases appeared to be very well-made. Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stitch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English stiche, from Old English stice; akin to Old English stician to stick

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of stitch was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near stitch

Cite this Entry

“Stitch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stitch. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

stitch

1 of 2 noun
1
: a sudden sharp pain especially in the side
2
a
: one in-and-out movement of a threaded needle in sewing or embroidering
b
: a portion of thread left in the material after one stitch
3
: a single loop of thread or yarn around a tool (as a knitting needle)
4
: a series of stitches formed in a particular way

stitch

2 of 2 verb
1
a
: to join with or as if with stitches
stitched a seam
b
: to make, mend, or decorate with or as if with stitches
2
: to do needlework : sew
stitcher noun

Medical Definition

stitch

1 of 2 noun
1
: a local sharp and sudden pain especially in the side
2
a
: one in-and-out movement of a threaded needle in suturing
b
: a portion of a suture left in the tissue after one stitch
removal of stitches

stitch

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to fasten, join, or close with stitches
stitch a wound

More from Merriam-Webster on stitch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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