notch

noun \ ˈnäch \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Examples: notch in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of notch

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 : degree, step

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notched

play \ˈnächt\ adjective

See notch defined for English-language learners

See notch defined for kids

notch was our Word of the Day on 08/25/2016. Hear the podcast!

Examples of notch in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of notch from the Web

Built from the same cut as Pata's iconic Fjord flannel, this shacket takes it up a notch, thanks to a thin layer of polyester on the inside.

— the editors, Outside Online, "Father's Day Gifts That Will Last the Rest of His Life," 1 June 2018
Eugenie, who has been known to wear some rather bold styles in the past, seems to have mastered the art of taking an ordinary outfit up a notch by adding some personal flair.

— kara thompson, Town & Country, "Princess Eugenie Wore a Hat With a Sweet Hidden Message to the Queen's Garden Party," 31 May 2018
Herman’s also invites customers to take their espresso tonic up a notch through the use of bitters, with options like Aztec chocolate, black walnut, and smoked chili.

— grace dickinson, Philly.com, "Coffee and tonic: The fizzy iced drink for cooling down this summer," 24 May 2018
First team all-conference for the third year in a row, Joseph took it up a notch by winning the Cliff Harris Award as the small college defensive player of the year.

— rick armstrong, Aurora Beacon-News, "Joseph's journey: From Dubuque to the Bears, Oswego graduate Michael Joseph never gives up," 7 May 2018
Instead of getting offended, Macron took it up a notch during their joint press conference, giving the President a cheek kiss and a strong handshake.

— brenna williams, CNN, "The hands did the talking during Macron's visit," 24 Apr. 2018
The classic Irish pub gets taken up a notch with rustic, wood-heavy decor and a series of flat screen TVs.

— emma krupp, RedEye Chicago, "Neighborhood guide: What to eat, drink and do in Ravenswood," 12 Apr. 2018
Easter eggs, both edible and huntable, are staples of Easter traditions, but Godiva’s chocolate Easter egg takes it up a notch.

— lisa marie segarra, Fortune, "Godiva Made a $7,000 Easter Egg. Take a Look," 31 Mar. 2018
Luka Milivojević After initially impressing in the second half of last season having joined the Eagles from Olympiacos, Milivojevic has taken it up a notch in his first full season in England.

— SI.com, "Premier League Overachievers: The 2017-18 Over-Performing XI," 16 May 2018

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

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."