hitch
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A fastener or connection point, as for a trailer.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
hichIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈhɪtʃ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
informal
A problem, delay or source of difficulty.
A fastener or connection point, as for a trailer.
A sudden pull.
Any of various knots used to attach a rope to an object other than another rope.
A hidden or unfavorable condition or element.
A large Californian minnow, Lavinia exilicauda.
verb
transitive
To attach, tie or fasten.
transitive
To pull with a jerk.
intransitive
To move interruptedly or with halts, jerks, or steps; said of something obstructed or impeded.
intransitiveuk
To strike the legs together in going, as horses; to interfere.
informaltransitive
To try to get a ride in a passing vehicle while standing at the side of a road, generally by either sticking out one's finger or thumb or holding a sign with one's stated destination.
intransitive
To become entangled or caught; to be linked or yoked; to unite; to cling.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Frequency
- Moderately Common
- Typical Use
- Neutral / general English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A problem, delay or source of difficulty.
Used this way, hitch is a reasonably familiar word with a faintly unfavourable edge. It turns up most in everyday conversation and social media or informal writing contexts.
- Emotional tone
- Slightly negative
- Formality
- Casual
- Intensity
- Moderate
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Critical or judgemental
- Usage feel
- Casual and conversational
Where it naturally appears
- Everyday conversation
- Social media/informal writing
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Pull up.
A fixed horizontal rail to which a horse can be hitched to prevent it from straying.
A fixed post with a ring to which a horse can be hitched to prevent it from straying.
A knot used to fasten a rope temporarily to an object.
A rolling hitch similar to a clove hitch.
A hitch for fastening a line to a spar or another rope.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Antonyms
Sense: to attach or tie or fasten
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.