hitchhike

play

verb hitch·hike \ ˈhich-ˌhīk \

Definition of hitchhike

intransitive verb

1 :to travel by securing free rides from passing vehicles

2 :to be carried or transported by chance or unintentionally

destructive insects hitchhiking on ships

transitive verb

:to solicit and obtain (a free ride) especially in a passing vehicle

—

hitchhiker

noun

See hitchhike defined for English-language learners

See hitchhike defined for kids

Examples of hitchhike in a Sentence

Her car broke down, so she had to hitchhike back home.
He hitchhiked his way across the country last summer.

Recent Examples of hitchhike from the Web

But the same habitats that could support martian microbes could also support earthly ones that survived spacecraft sterilization and hitchhiked to Mars.

— sid perkins, Science | AAAS, "Water ice found near Mars’s equator could entice colonists and life-seekers," 16 Aug. 2017
An adventurous kid, Kelly hitchhiked across the U.S. as a teen and rode an empty boxcar back east before his 16th birthday, and then joined the Merchant Marine to see the world (his first ship delivered 10,000 tons of beer to Vietnam).

— michael duffy, Time, "Why General John Kelly is Trump’s Last Hope," 10 Aug. 2017
Japanese beetles were found in Boise, having hitchhiked here on plants from an out-of-state nursery.

— margaret lauterbach, idahostatesman, "Idaho successfully battles destructive Japanese beetles," 26 July 2017
Green, a poet and novelist, has jaw-dropping true stories of his own: hitchhiking north at age 15; squatting in a mausoleum with a deranged derelict; finding his way home again.

— kiley armstrong, Detroit Free Press, "The Moth, a global storytelling initiative, turns 20," 30 June 2017
Diego is one of four brothers who, one by one over the years, all hitchhiked from Central America, walked across Mexico, and eventually found their way to the Hudson Valley to pick apples.

— michael frank, The Atlantic, "Can America's Farms Survive the Threat of Deportations?," 6 June 2017
The clip, directed by Alicia J. Rose, tracks two young women traveling together, hitchhiking and eventually ending up in a rundown club where Earle is performing the song on stage.

— gary graff, Billboard, "Justin Townes Earle Premieres 'Maybe a Moment' Video, Talks About New Record and Being an Expecting Father," 27 Apr. 2017
His only previous encounter with the police had come while hitchhiking in his service uniform; a state trooper had given him a hectoring lecture on the danger of taking rides from strangers.

— edward conlon, Esquire, "The Undercover Lives of NYPD's Black Officers," 21 Mar. 2017
Hitchhiking typically happens on dry land, so these kayakers were in for a surprise when one adorable seal recently decided to hitch a ride.

— katina beniaris, Country Living, "Watch This Adorable Seal Try to Hitch a Ride on Some Kayaks," 16 Feb. 2017

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

First Known Use of hitchhike

1923

hitchhike Synonyms

Synonyms

hitch, thumb

Related Words

bum; stow away; carjack, hijack (also highjack)

HITCHHIKE Defined for English Language Learners

hitchhike

play

verb

Definition of hitchhike for English Language Learners

: to get a ride in a passing vehicle by holding out your arm with your thumb up as you stand on the side of the road

HITCHHIKE Defined for Kids

hitchhike

play

verb hitch·hike \ ˈhich-ˌhīk \

Definition of hitchhike for Students

hitchhiked; hitchhiking

:to travel by getting free rides in passing vehicles

—

hitchhiker

noun

Learn More about hitchhike

See words that rhyme with hitchhike Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hitchhike Spanish Central: Translation of hitchhike Nglish: Translation of hitchhike for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up hitchhike? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

hitchhike

Definition of hitchhike

hitchhiker

Explore M-W

Examples of hitchhike in a Sentence

Recent Examples of hitchhike from the Web

First Known Use of hitchhike

hitchhike Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

HITCHHIKE Defined for English Language Learners

hitchhike

Definition of hitchhike for English Language Learners

HITCHHIKE Defined for Kids

hitchhike

Definition of hitchhike for Students

hitchhiker

Learn More about hitchhike

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066