hike

1 of 2

verb

hiked; hiking

intransitive verb

1
a
: to go on a hike
b
: to travel by any means
2
: to rise up
especially : to work upward out of place
skirt had hiked up in back

transitive verb

1
a
: to move, pull, or raise with a sudden motion
hiked himself onto the top bunk
c
: to raise in amount sharply or suddenly
hike rents
2
: to take on a hike
3
: to traverse on a hike
hike a trail
hiker noun

hike

2 of 2

noun

1
: a long walk especially for pleasure or exercise see also take a hike
2
: an increase especially in quantity or amount
a new wage hike
3

Examples of hike in a Sentence

Verb We spent the afternoon hiking around the lake. She hiked 10 miles in the hot desert sun. We hiked some of the shorter trails. Our neighbors spent their vacation hiking the Rockies. The state keeps hiking the tax on cigarettes. There's talk of hiking the eligibility age. I hiked myself onto the ledge. Noun We went for a hike around the lake. The school lost a number of students after the tuition hike. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The lusciously cooler climes of Hokkaido are heaven in the summer, with rainbow-bright flower fields and countless outdoor activities, from hiking to horseback riding. Danielle Demetriou, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2023 Cox urged people to show up with the necessary precautions – water, proper footwear and emergency supplies – and hike with a sense of stewardship in mind. oregonlive, 7 Sep. 2023 With candles formulated to represent entire states, experiences (from hiking to book clubs), and fictional places (Barbie’s Dreamhouse), Homesick specializes in capturing a moment and translating it into a scent. Bryce Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2023 Victoria, British Columbia Kevin Light Photo Green and positively gorgeous, the capital of British Columbia is a prime spot for urban adventure with its eclectic mix of outdoorsy activities like whale watching, exploring the blooms in Butchart Gardens, or hiking in old-growth rainforests. Hugh Garvey, Sunset Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023 Among those who trekked through the sludge was DJ Diplo, who spent hours hiking in the mud to try to get to his concert hours later in Washington, DC. Nouran Salahieh, CNN, 4 Sep. 2023 Workout tops and tennis skirts are her go-tos, even when hiking or running errands. Jaclyn Peiser, Washington Post, 4 Sep. 2023 Four plays later, Humbert broke the plane on a 2-yard burst, hiking the lead to three touchdowns. Wright Wilson, Detroit Free Press, 2 Sep. 2023 Flash flooding observed in area A Friday afternoon thunderstorm brought heavy rain to the northern end of Bryce Canyon National Park, park officials said, saying it was seen along the trail where Howell was reportedly hiking. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2023
Noun
But even with a pause on rate hikes, borrowers shouldn't expect to see better terms any time soon, according to experts. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2023 Properties in 4 out of 5 cities in the Lower 48 are vulnerable to rate hikes, including more than 25% of properties in New York City and Phoenix. Ella Nilsen, CNN, 20 Sep. 2023 But a spike in inflation could lead to more hikes, says financial advisor Michael Yoshikami, in Walnut Creek, Calif. Steve Garmhausen, wsj.com, 20 Sep. 2023 But the flip side of consistently strong growth means the Fed’s aggressive rate hike campaign has not managed to fully cool the economy. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2023 Sharing a carousel of photos, the couple smiled together in a selfie, posed together on a hike and took a photo in front of a staircase. Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023 Instead, the couple find themselves on a hike with the other woman, Cara, who has followed them on vacation, and her unsuspecting boyfriend, Gareth (Eric Balfour). Hunter Ingram, Variety, 16 Sep. 2023 For him and for his colleagues, the pay hike will be transformative. Globe Columnist, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023 Darn Tough’s socks live up to their name and will see you through a nearly infinite number of hikes and chilly plane rides, with the perfect amount of cushion and elasticity. Rena Behar, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hike.' 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

Verb

perhaps akin to hitch entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1809, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hike was in 1809

Dictionary Entries Near hike

Cite this Entry

“Hike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hike. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

hike

1 of 2 verb
hiked; hiking
1
: to move or raise up
hike rents
2
: to go on a long walk
hiker noun

hike

2 of 2 noun
1
: a long walk especially for pleasure or exercise
2
: an upward movement : rise
a price hike

More from Merriam-Webster on hike

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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