ratchet (up)

verb

variants also rachet (up)
Definition of ratchet (up)next
as in to bump (up)

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ratchet (up)
  1. maximize
  2. increase
Verb
  • Industry efforts over the past decades to improve efficiency and maximize profit mean that trains sometimes stretch as long as 3 miles, and often operate with just two crew members.
    — Kiel Porter, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Consumers are increasingly motivated by travel rewards, but many do not fully understand how to maximize them.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of maximize
Verb
  • The kingdom has faced increasing attacks from the Houthis, who also declared a blockade on the al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea on July 20.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Nor would increased options out wide and a central defender, The Athletic revealing earlier this week that a couple of bids have been rejected for Norway international centre-back Henrik Falchener, 23, from that country’s Viking Stavanger.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of increase
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

ratchets (up)
ratchet (up)
rate
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Cite this Entry

“Ratchet (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratchet%20%28up%29. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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