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

Long suspected as having hitched his wagon to Elizabeth Warren’s Anti-Crypto Army in exchange for a coveted position in a Democratic administration, Gensler may question his political instincts in the face of a Harris loss. —Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024

But when the press found out about the impending wedding, Elvis and Priscilla got hitched in Las Vegas instead and saved this residence for their first days as husband and wife. —Kelly Dawson, Architectural Digest, 4 Oct. 2024

Noun

The performance itself, fully available on CSPAN's website and shared by viewers on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, began more or less without a hitch. —Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024

The flight from San Francisco to New York in November 2023 went off without a hitch. —Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 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