latched; latching; latches
1
: to lay hold with or as if with the hands or arms
—used with on or onto
2
: to associate oneself intimately and often artfully
—used with on or onto
latched onto a rich widow
: any of various devices in which mating mechanical parts engage to fasten but usually not to lock something:
a
: a fastener (as for a door) consisting essentially of a pivoted bar that falls into a notch
b
: a fastener (as for a door) in which a spring slides a bolt into a hole
also
: night latch
latched; latching; latches
: to make fast with or as if with a latch
Examples of latch in a Sentence
Noun
He lifted the latch and opened the gate.
I heard her key turn in the latch.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kristina Watrobski, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2024
And so QAnon especially really seized that opportunity and just seeded these wild ideas that people latched onto before the facts could emerge.
—Leah Feiger, WIRED, 1 Aug. 2024
Alain Sherter, CBS News, 30 July 2024
The company notes that hood latch issues are more likely to be an issue with its Tesla vehicles in China and is a less common problem with its vehicles in the US and Europe, according to a safety recall document detailing the issue.
—Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 30 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for latch 
Verb
Both the governor and his wife previously taught at a high school in Mankato, Minn.
American Federation of Teachers (AFT) president Randi Weingarten and National Education Association (NEA) president Becky Pringle also latched onto Walz’s education background Tuesday morning.
—Kristina Watrobski, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2024
And so QAnon especially really seized that opportunity and just seeded these wild ideas that people latched onto before the facts could emerge.
—Leah Feiger, WIRED, 1 Aug. 2024
Noun
In a regulatory filing on Tuesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the electric automaker reported that the latch assembly for 17 of its new and used cars might not detect that their hood is open.
—Alain Sherter, CBS News, 30 July 2024
The company notes that hood latch issues are more likely to be an issue with its Tesla vehicles in China and is a less common problem with its vehicles in the US and Europe, according to a safety recall document detailing the issue.
—Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 30 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for latch
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'latch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near latch
Cite this Entry
“Latch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/latch. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
latch
1 of 3 verb1
: to get hold
2
: to attach oneself
latch
2 of 3 noun
: a catch (as a spring bolt) that holds a door or gate closed
latch
3 of 3 verb
: to catch or fasten by means of a latch
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