winch

1 of 2

noun

ˈwinch 

1

: any of various machines or instruments for hauling or pulling

especially : a powerful machine with one or more drums on which to coil a rope, cable, or chain for hauling or hoisting : windlass

2

: a crank with a handle for giving motion to a machine (such as a grindstone)

Illustration of winch

• winch 1

winch

2 of 2

verb

winched; winching; winches

transitive verb

: to hoist or haul with or as if with a winch

wincher noun

Examples of winch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

McDonough added extra springs and air bags to handle the camper weight and a winch up front, but otherwise has stayed away from overdoing the build. —Jakob Schiller, Outside Online, 29 May 2025

On Wednesday, May 14, a Czech climber was plucked off the mountain by a helicopter using a long-line winch system. —Ben Ayers, Outside Online, 16 May 2025

Verb

Lamb and Smit approach with their gear and check vitals, then begin measuring, sampling and hoisting the grizzly’s anesthetized body into the air in a sling winched to a tree. —Lesley Evans Ogden, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2025

Twenty-two people had been rescued by helicopter, including 18 winched from flooded homes and roads, and four rescued from a bridge, NSW Police said. —Reuters, NBC news, 22 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English winche roller, reel, from Old English wince; akin to Old English wincian to wink

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1529, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for winch

• cinch
• finch
• flinch
• inch
• lynch
• pinch
• synch
• bullfinch
• goldfinch

Kids Definition

winch

noun

ˈwinch

: a machine that has a roller on which a rope, cable, or chain is wound for pulling or lifting