hitch

1 of 2

verb

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

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
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.
Verb
Because of this responsibility, a CIO might hitch their cart to one vendor to ease their AI strategy and governance. Lori Schafer, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025 Buh buh!), Mario Cipollina’s driving bass, and Chris Hayes’ electric guitar start blaring as Marty rushes off to school on his skateboard, hitching rides on the back of a Ford pickup truck and then again on a Jeep Wrangler; one of the coolest things this ’80s kids had ever seen. Spin Editors, SPIN, 21 Jan. 2025
Noun
Melissa Rivers reflects on losing her home in LA wildfires Luckily, the ceremony went on without a hitch Saturday, with the pair exchanging vows in front of 150 guests, People reports. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025 Comments Gal Gadot's star ceremony, her induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, did not go off without a hitch. Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hitch

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of hitch was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hitch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hitch. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

hitch

1 of 2 verb
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
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

More from Merriam-Webster on hitch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!