NOTCHING (UP) Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

notching (up)

verb

present participle of notch (up)

as in achieving

to obtain (as a goal) through effort a stunning performance that notched up a second Academy Award for the actor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for notching (up)

Verb

The problem, Snegovaya said, is that achieving military autonomy for Europe and Ukraine is extremely difficult in the short term, and Europe has been slow to develop the necessary capabilities.

— Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
And, even before the pandemic, about half of the state’s students were not achieving the state’s learning goals.

— Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of achieving

Verb

The bread-winning Global Banking & Markets division delivered strong results, which was very much behind the relatively positive reaction in the stock.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
The decision backfired, as Rams kicker Harrison Mevis’s 48-yard game-winning field goal attempt was blocked by defensive end Greg Rousseau — much to the relief of Cook.

— Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of winning

Verb

This older world is often focused on common American ideals of individualism and grit as the primary tools for attaining personal success.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
In other words, what happens when their agreeable or polite approach to attaining something doesn’t work?

— Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of attaining

Verb

Quarterback Reagan Loki of Orange Lutheran came up with some tough running of his own at quarterback, gaining 59 yards.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
Separating an investment from a hobby Nonetheless, the investment community is gaining prominence — and making money, a lot of it on trading in TCGs.

— Bob Woods, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of gaining

Verb

Dogma25 is an initiative of recent Venice Golden Lion winner May el-Toukhy (Woman Unknown), who will be one of the five directors making films under its rules alongside directors Milad Alami, Annika Berg, Eklöf and Just.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
By the time Lee’s moved on to thanking his dad for not believing him, thereby giving him something to prove, an embarrassed Frances is making a quick run for the exit.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of making

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

notching

notching (up)

notch (up)

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Notching (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/notching%20%28up%29. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of notching (up)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fervid

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes