variants
or less commonly rachet
1
: a mechanism that consists of a bar or wheel having inclined teeth into which a pawl drops so that motion can be imparted to the wheel or bar, governed, or prevented and that is used in a hand tool (such as a wrench or screwdriver) to allow effective motion in one direction only
2
: a pawl or detent for holding or propelling a toothed wheel
variants
or less commonly rachet
ratcheted also racheted; ratcheting also racheting; ratchets also rachets
: to cause to move by steps or degrees
—usually used with up or down
tried to ratchet down the debt
: to proceed by steps or degrees
Synonyms
Examples of ratchet in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Disappointed climate activists will be pushing to turn the ratchet further as soon as politics permit.
—The Editors, National Review, 11 Mar. 2024
In 2023, ratchet party rap reemerged in popularity, and Sexyy led the charge with music and energy reminiscent of iconic voices like Waka Flocka Flame and Chief Keef.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 9 Jan. 2024
On May 17, Aubrey Scaletta, her dad and twin sister were driving home from gymnastics practice when a portion of the ratchet strap that Aubrey was playing with flew out of the truck's window and attached itself to the drive shaft.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 26 Dec. 2023
The coming of congestion pricing ratchets up the urgency of that transformation.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 12 Dec. 2023
The third season ratchets up the contrast between Slough House and its glitzy counterpart, the Park, where the agents are in good standing, the lights are bright and the staff is stylish, safe and well-funded.
—Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2023
Nightlife in Tampa is more ratchet and just fun and spontaneous.
—Nia Decaille, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2023
The pop-out roof panel is now attached with three hand levers rather than four bolts and a ratchet wrench.
—Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 7 Sep. 2023
Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
But as violence has ratcheted up in the last several months, the United Nations’ latest plan — drafted by the United States and Ecuador — is to send Kenyan troops in to police Haiti.
—Char Adams, NBC News, 28 Mar. 2024
Soon after Star Garden reopened, dancers told The Times that drink prices had ratcheted up, the bar had gone cashless and removed its ATM and management was discouraging customers from tipping with cash.
—Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
In each scenario, Frick slowly ratchets up the suspense, introducing supporting characters whose relevance takes time to unfold: the girls’ mother, who’s suffering from dementia; their estranged father; and two boyfriends and a husband who may or may not be up to something creepy.
—Sarah Lyall, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024
In an election year, this debate will only ratchet up as politicians take sides, Eberle added.
—Byallie Garfinkle, Fortune, 12 Feb. 2024
In the draft of the rule, auto companies could only meet the gradually ratcheting zero-emissions goals by selling more battery-electric cars.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 25 Mar. 2024
That windfall could land in Trump's lap at a time when his financial pressures are ratcheting up.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2024
Anxiety over commercial real estate ratcheted up last month when New York Community Bank disclosed unanticipated losses on real estate loans that were tied to office and apartment buildings, sending its stock plunging.
—Alan Rappeport, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Noun
Meanwhile, ribs are devoured, beer is guzzled and, when conflict ratchets up, shots are thrown back.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Disappointed climate activists will be pushing to turn the ratchet further as soon as politics permit.
—The Editors, National Review, 11 Mar. 2024
In 2023, ratchet party rap reemerged in popularity, and Sexyy led the charge with music and energy reminiscent of iconic voices like Waka Flocka Flame and Chief Keef.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 9 Jan. 2024
On May 17, Aubrey Scaletta, her dad and twin sister were driving home from gymnastics practice when a portion of the ratchet strap that Aubrey was playing with flew out of the truck's window and attached itself to the drive shaft.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 26 Dec. 2023
The coming of congestion pricing ratchets up the urgency of that transformation.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 12 Dec. 2023
The third season ratchets up the contrast between Slough House and its glitzy counterpart, the Park, where the agents are in good standing, the lights are bright and the staff is stylish, safe and well-funded.
—Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2023
Nightlife in Tampa is more ratchet and just fun and spontaneous.
—Nia Decaille, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2023
The pop-out roof panel is now attached with three hand levers rather than four bolts and a ratchet wrench.
—Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 7 Sep. 2023
Verb
This was a direct provocation to the Somali leadership in Mogadishu and ratcheted up tensions between Somalia and Somaliland.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
But as violence has ratcheted up in the last several months, the United Nations’ latest plan — drafted by the United States and Ecuador — is to send Kenyan troops in to police Haiti.
—Char Adams, NBC News, 28 Mar. 2024
Soon after Star Garden reopened, dancers told The Times that drink prices had ratcheted up, the bar had gone cashless and removed its ATM and management was discouraging customers from tipping with cash.
—Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
In each scenario, Frick slowly ratchets up the suspense, introducing supporting characters whose relevance takes time to unfold: the girls’ mother, who’s suffering from dementia; their estranged father; and two boyfriends and a husband who may or may not be up to something creepy.
—Sarah Lyall, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024
In an election year, this debate will only ratchet up as politicians take sides, Eberle added.
—Byallie Garfinkle, Fortune, 12 Feb. 2024
In the draft of the rule, auto companies could only meet the gradually ratcheting zero-emissions goals by selling more battery-electric cars.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 25 Mar. 2024
That windfall could land in Trump's lap at a time when his financial pressures are ratcheting up.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2024
Anxiety over commercial real estate ratcheted up last month when New York Community Bank disclosed unanticipated losses on real estate loans that were tied to office and apartment buildings, sending its stock plunging.
—Alan Rappeport, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ratchet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ratchet
Cite this Entry
“Ratchet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratchet. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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