variants
or less commonly rachet
1
: a mechanism that consists of a bar or wheel having inclined teeth into which a pawl drops so that motion can be imparted to the wheel or bar, governed, or prevented and that is used in a hand tool (such as a wrench or screwdriver) to allow effective motion in one direction only
2
: a pawl or detent for holding or propelling a toothed wheel
variants
or less commonly rachet
ratcheted also racheted; ratcheting also racheting; ratchets also rachets
: to cause to move by steps or degrees
—usually used with up or down
tried to ratchet down the debt
: to proceed by steps or degrees
Synonyms
Examples of ratchet in a Sentence
Verb
news stories about the kidnapping will ratchet down as the weeks go by
Recent Examples on the Web
Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2024
Republican Party policy on guns is on a one-way ratchet — toward more guns and less control.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2024
Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 10 Aug. 2024
After a brief slowing in April and May, the pace of Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea ratcheted up dramatically in June, posting the largest total since last December.
—Alexandra Stark, Foreign Affairs, 2 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ratchet 
Noun
Per a press release obtained by PEOPLE from the Washington County Sheriff's Office, authorities were informed of a teenager who allegedly had been tied to a tree with ratchet straps on a Vera property for three days.
—Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2024
Republican Party policy on guns is on a one-way ratchet — toward more guns and less control.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2024
Verb
That din of noise will likely be ratcheted up even higher during Saturday’s final between the host nation and the overwhelming favorite made up of an insane amount of talent.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 10 Aug. 2024
After a brief slowing in April and May, the pace of Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea ratcheted up dramatically in June, posting the largest total since last December.
—Alexandra Stark, Foreign Affairs, 2 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ratchet
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ratchet.' 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 ratchet
Cite this Entry
“Ratchet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratchet. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
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