hitch

1 of 2

verb

ˈhich 

hitched; hitching; hitches

transitive verb

1

: to move by jerks or with a tug

hitching his chair closer to the table

2

a

: to catch or fasten by or as if by a hook or knot

hitched his horse to the fence post

b(1)

: to connect (a vehicle or implement) with a source of motive power

hitch a rake to a tractor

(2)

: to attach (a source of motive power) to a vehicle or instrument

hitch the horses to the wagon

c

: to join in marriage

got hitched

3

: hitchhike

hitched a ride into town

intransitive verb

1

: to move with halts and jerks : hobble

hitched along on her cane

2

a

: to become entangled, made fast, or linked

b

: to become joined in marriage

3

: hitchhike

hitched back home

hitcher noun

hitch

2 of 2

noun

1

: limp

had a hitch in his step

2

: a sudden movement or pull : jerk

gave his trousers a hitch

3

a

: a sudden halt : stoppage

a hitch in the performance

b

: a usually unforeseen difficulty or obstacle

The plan went off without a hitch.

4

: the act or fact of catching hold

5

: a connection between a vehicle or implement and a detachable source of power (such as a tractor or horse)

attached a trailer hitch to his pickup

6

: a delimited period especially of military service

serving a four-year hitch in the navy

7

: any of various knots used to form a temporary noose in a line or to secure a line temporarily to an object

8

: lift entry 2 sense 5b

catching a hitch into town

Synonyms

Verb

• buck
• hoick
• jerk
• jolt
• twitch
• yank

Noun

• booby trap
• catch
• catch-22
• gimmick
• gotcha
• joker
• land mine
• pitfall
• snag

Examples of hitch in a Sentence

Verb

hitch a trailer to a car

He hitched across the country last summer.

He hitched his way across the country last summer.

Noun

The plan went off without a hitch.

He went back to college after doing his hitch in the army.

a seven-year hitch at the newspaper

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Amy and Pati opted to go first in an attempt to prove their worth after hitching a helicopter ride the day prior. —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024

What is your general advice to any celebrity who might be getting hitched? —Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 23 Aug. 2024

Noun

With confetti colors and an appealing blocky design (buffered by rounded edges), these statement pieces are easy to clean and light enough to be moved from playroom to patio without a hitch. —Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2024

The album’s rollout went off without a hitch, a far cry from the days of long delays and false starts. —Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English hytchen

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hitch

• Blackwall hitch
• clove hitch
• half hitch
• hitch a lift
• hitch a ride
• hitch one's wagon to
• hitch up
• rolling hitch
• timber hitch
• without a hitch

Kids Definition

hitch

1 of 2 verb

ˈhich 

1

: to move by jerks

2

: to catch, fasten, or connect by or as if by a hook or knot

hitch a horse to a rail

3

: hitchhike

hitcher noun

hitch

2 of 2 noun

1

: a jerky movement or pull

2

: an unexpected stop or obstacle

the plan went off without a hitch

3

: the connection between something towed (as a plow or trailer) and its mover (as a tractor, automobile, or animal)

4

: a knot used for a temporary fastening

5

: a period usually of military service

do a hitch in the army