cinch

1 of 2

noun

1
: a strap that holds a saddle on a horse
2
: a tight grip
3
a
: a thing done with ease
Getting reelected would be a cinch for him.
b
: a certainty to happen
it's a cinch he'll break the record

cinch

2 of 2

verb

cinched; cinching; cinches

transitive verb

1
a
: to put a cinch on
cinch a horse
b
: to fasten (something, such as a belt or strap) tightly
He cinched his belt tight.
2
: to make certain : assure
the goal that cinched the victory

intransitive verb

: to tighten the cinch
often used with up
cinched up before mounting his horse

Examples of cinch in a Sentence

Noun This recipe is a cinch. This dish is a cinch to make. Verb The coat is cinched at the waist. The rider cinched the saddle. The candidate cinched the nomination by winning the major primary elections. The home run cinched the victory.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
As with the previous keyboard generation, setting up Touch ID is still a cinch. PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024 The collection bag, which needed to be emptied every 20 minutes or so, is held on with straps and two small locks, and was a cinch to get on and off. Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
Layers of gauzy chiffon were cinched with bustiers and ruffs were made from shredded newspaper. Violet Goldstone, WWD, 4 Nov. 2024 All these features come in a sleek package with a comfortable fit that cinches down to snug even small wrists. Jakob Schiller, Outside Online, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cinch 

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Spanish cincha, from Latin cingula girdle, girth, from cingere — more at cincture

First Known Use

Noun

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1866, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cinch was in 1859

Dictionary Entries Near cinch

Cite this Entry

“Cinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinch. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

cinch

1 of 2 noun
1
: a strong girth for a pack or saddle
2
: an easy thing to do
3
: something sure to happen

cinch

2 of 2 verb
1
: to put a cinch on
2
: to make certain
the goal that cinched the victory

More from Merriam-Webster on cinch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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