hitchhike

verb

hitch·​hike ˈhich-ˌhīk 

hitchhiked; hitchhiking; hitchhikes

intransitive verb

1

: to travel by securing free rides from passing vehicles

2

: to be carried or transported by chance or unintentionally

destructive insects hitchhiking on ships

transitive verb

: to solicit and obtain (a free ride) especially in a passing vehicle

hitchhiker noun

Synonyms

• hitch
• thumb

Examples of hitchhike in a Sentence

Her car broke down, so she had to hitchhike back home.

He hitchhiked his way across the country last summer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Houseplant pests typically hitchhike a ride into your home. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2025

The complaint alleges that staff regularly sent students unattended to hitchhike for errands. —Glynis Kazanjian, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2025

The first incident describes an alleged rape in 1971 when the plaintiff, then a 14-year-old student, was sent on a hitchhiking errand by a school dormitory counselor to purchase groceries from a nearby Kosher grocery store, Shapiro’s. —Glynis Kazanjian, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2025

Rahill hitchhiked across the country to upstate New York for his sister’s graduation. —Uma Raja, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for hitchhike

• alike
• belike
• birdlike
• catlike
• childlike
• christlike
• deathlike
• dislike
• dreamlike
• friedreich
• godlike
• hairlike

Kids Definition

hitchhike

verb

hitch·​hike ˈhich-ˌhīk 

: to travel by securing free rides from passing vehicles

hitchhiker noun