hitched; hitching; hitches
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
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
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
: lift entry 2 sense 5b
catching a hitch into town
Synonyms
Examples of hitch in a Sentence
Verb
hitch a trailer to a car
He hitched across the country last summer.
He hitched his way across the country last summer.
Noun
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 on the Web
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
Outside the operations center, a soldier hitched a small trailer to the back of the land drone, which was a bit bigger than a Radio Flyer wagon, and loaded it with thirty antitank mines.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
On a cynical-slash-practical level, Mäkelä’s appointment could be seen as an organization in an ailing classical landscape boosting its mobility by hitching itself to a rising star.
—Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
At the same time though, Amazon is hitching its cart to an AI startup that, while boasting impressive technology, will not instantly distinguish or differentiate Amazon from the competition — since Google is also an Anthropic partner.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
On her crime wall, Sisco drew an outline of the van stuck in the fast lane along with an empty trailer hitched to the back that was meant to haul the Nissan home.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2024
The main focus is their friends Shelby (Brittany O’Grady) and Cyrus (James Morosini), together since college but still not hitched, a subject of much nosy speculation.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2024
Fans got to see the aftermath of the documentary airing, including a moving Q&A, as well as witness Dwight and Angela finally getting hitched at Schrute Farms.
—Erin Strecker, EW.com, 21 Feb. 2024
In the spot, a blizzard threatens to stop a delivery of Budweiser, until a team of Clydesdales are hitched to an old-fashioned wagon loaded with kegs.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2024
Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
Madge, who was seen during some sets wearing a knee brace, belted out her greatest hits without a hitch or complaint.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2024
The four-month jail hitch is just the latest adornment on Navarro’s unusual career path from environmentalist San Diego mayoral candidate and Democratic congressional hopeful to fall-on-his-sword MAGA loyalist.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
The Hall needs to be about more than a seven-year hitch, and his career was too good to ignore.
—Mike Bass, The Enquirer, 26 Jan. 2024
Nothing could rain on the happy couple's parade, though, and the rest of the ceremony went off without a hitch.
—Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 5 Jan. 2024
Thanks to everyone's help, the sparkler was eventually located and the rest of the proposal went off without a hitch.
—Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
Not every performance goes off without a hitch — sometimes there’s a nip slip.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2024
The premiere went off without a hitch, and an emotional Psykou was greeted with a lengthy and rousing ovation.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 17 Mar. 2024
Verb
The owner of Truth Social, a social media platform exclusively hitched to Donald Trump, staged an initial public offering March 26 amid a torrent of speculation over how many billions the IPO would produce for Trump himself.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
Outside the operations center, a soldier hitched a small trailer to the back of the land drone, which was a bit bigger than a Radio Flyer wagon, and loaded it with thirty antitank mines.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
On a cynical-slash-practical level, Mäkelä’s appointment could be seen as an organization in an ailing classical landscape boosting its mobility by hitching itself to a rising star.
—Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
At the same time though, Amazon is hitching its cart to an AI startup that, while boasting impressive technology, will not instantly distinguish or differentiate Amazon from the competition — since Google is also an Anthropic partner.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
On her crime wall, Sisco drew an outline of the van stuck in the fast lane along with an empty trailer hitched to the back that was meant to haul the Nissan home.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2024
The main focus is their friends Shelby (Brittany O’Grady) and Cyrus (James Morosini), together since college but still not hitched, a subject of much nosy speculation.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2024
Fans got to see the aftermath of the documentary airing, including a moving Q&A, as well as witness Dwight and Angela finally getting hitched at Schrute Farms.
—Erin Strecker, EW.com, 21 Feb. 2024
In the spot, a blizzard threatens to stop a delivery of Budweiser, until a team of Clydesdales are hitched to an old-fashioned wagon loaded with kegs.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2024
Noun
Jon Huertas turned a hitch into a blessing while filming Tracker with Justin Hartley.
—Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
Madge, who was seen during some sets wearing a knee brace, belted out her greatest hits without a hitch or complaint.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2024
The four-month jail hitch is just the latest adornment on Navarro’s unusual career path from environmentalist San Diego mayoral candidate and Democratic congressional hopeful to fall-on-his-sword MAGA loyalist.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
The Hall needs to be about more than a seven-year hitch, and his career was too good to ignore.
—Mike Bass, The Enquirer, 26 Jan. 2024
Nothing could rain on the happy couple's parade, though, and the rest of the ceremony went off without a hitch.
—Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 5 Jan. 2024
Thanks to everyone's help, the sparkler was eventually located and the rest of the proposal went off without a hitch.
—Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
Not every performance goes off without a hitch — sometimes there’s a nip slip.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2024
The premiere went off without a hitch, and an emotional Psykou was greeted with a lengthy and rousing ovation.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 17 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hitch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hitch
Cite this Entry
“Hitch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hitch. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hitch
2 of 2 noun1
: a jerky movement or pull
2
: an unexpected stop or obstacle
the plan went off without a hitch
3
: the connection between something towed (as a plow or trailer) and its mover (as a tractor, automobile, or animal)
4
: a knot used for a temporary fastening
5
: a period usually of military service
do a hitch in the army
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