notch

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a V-shaped indentation
b
: a slit made to serve as a record
c
: a rounded indentation cut into the pages of a book on the edge opposite the spine
2
: a deep close pass : gap
3
notched adjective

notch

2 of 2

verb

notched; notching; notches

transitive verb

1
: to cut or make a notch in
2
a
: to mark or record by a notch
b
: score, achieve
sometimes used with up

Did you know?

Occasionally, you might hear a child ask for a "napple," as in "I would like a napple," mistaking the phrase "an apple" for "a napple." A similar error is believed to be behind notch, which may have resulted from a misdivision of "an otch." (Otch is a noun that is assumed to have existed in earlier English as a borrowing of Middle French oche, meaning "an incision made to keep a record.") Notch would not be alone in developing from such a mistake. The words newt and nickname were formed, respectively, from misdivisions of "an ewte" and "an ekename." Going in the other direction, umpire first appears in Middle English as oumpere, a mistaken rendering of "a noumpere."

Examples of notch in a Sentence

Noun Cut small notches at the corners of the fabric. The tool has a notch for prying out nails. The town is on the other side of the notch. They turned the volume up several notches. Verb Notch the ends so that they fit together. He notched his fifth victory this year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Take 20 questions up a notch with a card game that challenges kids to guess an animal based on clues. Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 8 July 2025 All of these great lines and pieces of advice that came from them, and that’s what made the show so special, that camaraderie, that POV that the Goldens brought that kind of kicked everything up a notch and broke them out of their shells a little bit. Katie Campione, Deadline, 7 July 2025
Verb
Kerr County, where Green's family members were swept away, has notched the highest death count, with 87 people lost from a community with just 25,000 residents. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 9 July 2025 Monday in his first game back in Detroit, Keith happened to notch three hits, all to the pull side. Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for notch

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps alteration (from misdivision of an otch) of *otch, from Middle French oche

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of notch was circa 1560

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Cite this Entry

“Notch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/notch. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

notch

1 of 2 noun
1
: a cut in the shape of a V in an edge or surface
2
: a narrow pass between mountains : gap
3
: degree sense 1, step
turn the radio up a notch

notch

2 of 2 verb
1
: to cut or make a notch in
2
a
: to mark or record by a notch

Medical Definition

notch

noun
: a V-shaped indentation (as on a bone)
notched adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on notch

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