notch

noun

\ ˈnäch

Definition of notch

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

notch

verb

notched; notching; notches

Definition of notch (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to cut or make a notch in

2a : to mark or record by a notch

b : score, achieve —sometimes used with up

Other Words from notch Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about notch

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Did You Know?

Noun

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: Noun

Those moves, as well as the firing of former chief executive John Flannery, prompted S&P to cut GE’s credit rating by two notches. — Nina Trentmann, WSJ, "GE’s Asset Sales Bode Well for Balance Sheet," 26 Feb. 2019 The Pixel 3 and 3 XL have been thoroughly leaked, but here’s the gist on what to expect: larger screens (and one notch) with otherwise nearly identical designs, wireless charging, and a second selfie camera. — Jacob Kastrenakes, The Verge, "9 things to expect from the Google Pixel 3 event next week," 5 Oct. 2018 Photos Steering is a notch or two more tactile than many but unlikely to be perceived as sporty. — Car and Driver, "2018 Hyundai Sonata 2.4L," 14 Feb. 2018 The four-county region area moved up two notches from last year’s ninth-place spot, according to a study released Wednesday. — Mary Shanklin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Orlando ranks 7th in U.S. for economic growth," 17 Jan. 2018 From sporty track pants to big, luxurious sweaters, these top-notch looks will motivate you to step up your airport-style game. — Glamour, "The 26 Best Celebrity Airport Outfits, to Inspire You to Look Chic AF While Traveling," 29 Mar. 2019 Women in this demographic still need more brands that treat them like top-notch customers, not afterthoughts. — Jessica Andrews, Teen Vogue, "Henning Delivers Plus-Size Workwear With a Lot of Style," 15 Mar. 2019 In general, precum doesn’t seem to transport top-notch sperm (no offense to the little wrigglers that wind up in this fluid). — Kasandra Brabaw, SELF, "Can You Get Pregnant From Precum?," 7 Mar. 2019 But consider the following: Brown + Hudson, a tour operator that goes to extraordinary degrees to arrange entirely bespoke trips, layered with top-notch experiences. — Melinda Stevens, Condé Nast Traveler, "Editor's Letter: The Hotels, Islands, and Cruises to Watch in 2019," 18 Dec. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The currency has notched five weekly declines in six weeks, a reflection of the growing skepticism among investors about policy makers’ ability to steer an economic turnaround in Europe. ... — Akane Otani, WSJ, "The Euro’s Bad Year Just Keeps Getting Worse," 26 Apr. 2019 Jones has notched a season-high in carries in each of his last three games (12, 14, 15). — Mike Vorel, The Seattle Times, "Five things to know about the Seahawks’ next opponent, the Green Bay Packers," 12 Nov. 2018 Woods, 42, who came from four back in the final round to win here in 2012, hasn’t notched a victory anywhere since August 2013. — Karen Crouse, New York Times, "Tiger Woods Soars at the Memorial, Except on the Greens," 2 June 2018 Murphy pitched four innings of relief to get the victory, with Wilbur Wood notching the save. — Paul Sullivan, chicagotribune.com, "Juan Soto's feat recalls a forgotten teen phenom from Cubs' past," 15 June 2018 As a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the world’s all-time top goal scorer of any gender, Wambach retired in 2015, notching a World Cup title on her fourth try. — Jocelyn Silver, WSJ, "At a Critical Time for U.S. Soccer, Abby Wambach Is on a Mission," 15 Apr. 2019 The game's debut on Switch was an immediate hit, notching more than 2 million downloads. — USA TODAY, "Why some 'Fortnite' players are mad at Sony, PlayStation," 14 June 2018 Marissa Schuld, Pinnacle, Senior The senior pitcher was the driving force behind Pinnacle's 4-0 win over Hamilton in the 6A title bout, notching 14 strikeouts and a solo home run. — Katherine Fitzgerald, azcentral, "American Family Insurance All-USA Arizona High School Softball Player of the Year nominees," 7 June 2018 The move paid immediate dividends, as the senior notched an RBI single that plated Cohen Parent to give the Griffins their first lead of the game at 5-4. — Andrew Valenti, NOLA.com, "Dutchtown 5, Northshore 4 (Game 1): Ben Davis notches go-ahead RBI in extras to give Griffins upset win," 27 Apr. 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.