hitch

verb \ ˈhich \

|Updated on: 16 Jul 2018

Examples: hitch in a Sentence

Definition of hitch

hitched; hitching; hitches

transitive verb

1 : to move by jerks or with a tug

hitching his chair closer to the table

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

hitched a ride into town

intransitive verb

1 : to move with halts and jerks : hobble

hitched along on her cane

2 a : to become entangled, made fast, or linked

b : to become joined in marriage

3 : hitchhike

hitched back home

—

hitcher

noun

See hitch defined for English-language learners

See hitch defined for kids

Examples of hitch in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of hitch from the Web

Video courtesy of Mike Donovan Arizona Republic Beata Mariana de Jesus Mejia-Mejia had walked, hitched rides and crossed a country to escape violence in Guatemala.

— dianna m. náñez, azcentral, "Migrant children: Separated from his mother, 7-year-old boy becomes one of first to be reunited," 22 June 2018
Airlift has plans to hitch Porch Life to the back of the truck and drag it around the country, making it the first mobile musical home the collective has created.

— liz stinson, Curbed, "Art collective wants to take its ‘musical house’ on tour," 2 May 2018
The trailer hitched to his truck was also packed with people — one survivor later told police that there were as many as 200 people inside, others put the number between 70 and 100.

— jason buch, San Antonio Express-News, "With summer approaching, concerns grow about dangerous smuggling routes," 20 Apr. 2018
In the dark fields, Amish farmers hitched their horses to black buggies and left quietly.

— jason nark, Philly.com, "As milk prices keep falling, more Pa. dairy farmers are calling it quits," 17 Apr. 2018
Claudio hitched in his delivery, such a funky motion for even a seasoned hitter to read.

— chandler rome, Houston Chronicle, "Astros squander opportunities against Rangers in first loss of season," 30 Mar. 2018
The diminutive insects, which are reddish brown in color and the size of an apple seed, like to hitch rides on clothing, luggage and used furniture.

— dwight adams, Indianapolis Star, "Why Indy is on the worst bedbug cities list — again," 9 Jan. 2018
That’s what happens when your brand gets hitched to a talent like Spieth, one of the tour’s most marketable young stars.

— chris brodeur, courant.com, "How Difficult Was Jordan Spieth's Winning Bunker Shot At The Travelers Championship? Like Many, We Tried It," 20 June 2018
There’s the normally passive Bernard, who finally stands up and embraces his own agency by deleting the Dr. Ford (Anthony Hopkins) code that’s hitched a ride inside his robot brain.

— bryan bishop, The Verge, "Westworld Spoilers Club season 2, episode 9: Vanishing Point," 18 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hitch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of hitch

Middle English hytchen

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

hitch Synonyms

hitch

noun

Definition of hitch

1 : limp

had a hitch in his step

2 : a sudden movement or pull : jerk

gave his trousers a hitch

3 a : a sudden halt : stoppage

a hitch in the performance

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 (such as a tractor or horse)

attached a trailer hitch to his pickup

6 : a delimited period especially of military service

serving a four-year hitch in the navy

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

8 : ²lift 5b

catching a hitch into town

See hitch defined for English-language learners

Examples of hitch in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of hitch from the Web

From Tejal The only hitch with Kopitiam used to be the improbability of finding a seat.

— New York Times, "Things to Do in NYC: Astoria for a Pool Day, and Open-Mic Night Plus Dumplings in Chinatown," 12 July 2018
There’s one other small hitch: Ericka is no mere cruise captain, but the great-granddaughter of Dracula’s arch-nemesis, famed vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing.

— barbara vandenburgh, azcentral, "Monsters go on vacation in 'Hotel Transylvania 3'," 12 July 2018
Hot and cold water and an outdoor shower are accessed from the garage as well, and a custom hitch holds expedition boxes and a tray for firewood.

— megan barber, Curbed, "This custom camper van can sleep a family of 6," 11 July 2018
Drivers heading downtown on the Dan Ryan Expressway Saturday morning may run into an unusual hitch — an anti-violence protest planned for the northbound lanes starting at 10 a.m.

— mary wisniewski, chicagotribune.com, "How to get around Saturday if anti-violence protest blocks the Dan Ryan," 6 July 2018
The processor is a last-gen model and the touchpad hitches occasionally.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "CNET: Best Laptops For Maintaining Your Privacy," 5 July 2018
Officials said the structure is original, including the double-hitch carved support beams that can be traced back to the Michigan forest where they were originally cut.

— cain buchmeier, Post-Tribune, "Antique cars pass through 140-year old bridge for first time since 2012," 27 June 2018
The servers were, however, both apologetic about the hitches and knowledgeable about the dishes.

— kate washington, sacbee, "It’s good to be back: Celestin’s revives its particular brand of gumbo and grace," 22 June 2018
There’s a hitch: the GOP needs over 23,600 signatures by July 18 to get a vote on Nov. 6.

— sam rosenstiel, Cincinnati.com, "Want a vote on the sales tax hike? GOP says 'sign here', Dems say 'stay away'," 21 June 2018

Origin and Etymology of hitch

see ¹hitch

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1664

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

hitch Synonyms

Synonyms

booby trap, catch, gimmick, joker, pitfall, snag;

Related Words

snare, trap, trip wire, web;

hazard, peril, risk;

bomb, bombshell, kicker, surprise (also surprize);

bait, decoy, lure;

HITCH Defined for English Language Learners

hitch

verb

Definition of hitch for English Language Learners

: to attach, fasten, or connect (something) with a hook, knot, etc.

hitch

noun

Definition of hitch for English Language Learners

: a hidden problem that makes something more complicated or difficult to do
: a device that is used to connect one thing (such as a plow or trailer) to another (such as a tractor, car, or animal)
: a period of service in the military, at a job, etc.