notch

noun \ ˈnäch \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

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

In another part of Japan, Bella Hadid parted her overgrown bangs at center, taking her tie-back up a '90s notch.

— calin van paris, Vogue, "The 10 Best Beauty Instagrams of the Week: Emily Ratajkowski, Sita Abellan, and More," 15 Apr. 2018
But the water pressure seemed to turn up a notch these past five days.

— chris cillizza, CNN, "Holy cow, the Michael Cohen raid was only on Monday!," 13 Apr. 2018
The front glass has a notch cutout at the bottom and was apparently inspired by ski goggles.

— jack stewart, WIRED, "Airstream's New Baby Trailer is Less Pretty, More Practical," 12 Apr. 2018
The Indian airfield was also the fastest-growing on the list, with passenger traffic rising 14 percent, followed by 10 percent at China’s Guangzhou, which climbed two notches to No. 13.

— Fortune, "JFK Just Got Booted From the List of the World's 20 Busiest Airports," 9 Apr. 2018
The Indian airfield was also the fastest-growing on the list, with passenger traffic rising 14 percent, followed by 10 percent at China’s Guangzhou, which climbed two notches to No. 13.

— Bloomberg.com, "Zuckerberg Testifies Before Senate Panel," 9 Apr. 2018
Reed eagled the par-5 13th and 15th holes and shot a scintillating 67 in off-and-on rain that softened Augusta National’s greens just enough to bring them down a notch from terrifying.

— gary d'amato, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "D'Amato: Old adversaries Reed, McIlroy ready for Masters battle on Sunday," 7 Apr. 2018
Queens of the Stone Age turn their usual 11 a few notches down for their stunningly awesome and slightly subdued take on the 1973 glam rock favorite.

— aly semigran, Billboard, "Elton John's 'Revamp': Which Pop Stars Soar While Covering the Rocket Man?," 6 Apr. 2018
Kevin graduated with a degree in Liberal Arts in 1997 adding yet another notch to his glowing list of accomplishments.

— courant.com, "Kevin M. Miller," 4 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.

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."