notch

1 of 2

noun

ˈnäch 

1

a

: a V-shaped indentation

b

: a slit made to serve as a record

c

: a rounded indentation cut into the pages of a book on the edge opposite the spine

2

: a deep close pass : gap

3

: degree, step

notched

ˈnächt 

adjective

notch

2 of 2

verb

notched; notching; notches

transitive verb

1

: to cut or make a notch in

2

a

: to mark or record by a notch

b

: score, achieve

—sometimes used with up

Did you know?

Occasionally, you might hear a child ask for a "napple," as in "I would like a napple," mistaking the phrase "an apple" for "a napple." A similar error is believed to be behind notch, which may have resulted from a misdivision of "an otch." (Otch is a noun that is assumed to have existed in earlier English as a borrowing of Middle French oche, meaning "an incision made to keep a record.") Notch would not be alone in developing from such a mistake. The words newt and nickname were formed, respectively, from misdivisions of "an ewte" and "an ekename." Going in the other direction, umpire first appears in Middle English as oumpere, a mistaken rendering of "a noumpere."

Synonyms

Noun

• chip
• hack
• indent
• indentation
• indenture
• kerf
• nick

Verb

• achieve
• attain
• bag
• chalk up
• clock (up) [chiefly British]
• gain
• hit
• log
• make
• rack up
• ring up
• score
• win

Examples of notch in a Sentence

Noun

Cut small notches at the corners of the fabric.

The tool has a notch for prying out nails.

The town is on the other side of the notch.

They turned the volume up several notches.

Verb

Notch the ends so that they fit together.

He notched his fifth victory this year.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There were a couple of potential NCAA teams in there, but the competition level goes up a notch this weekend when DU travels to North Dakota, a top-10 club in both national polls. —Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024

Catenary's Bloom scratchers, though, take it up a notch, using pet-safe dyes to create a beautiful, natural design mimicking flora and fauna. —Medea Giordano, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

Against Utah, Hunter notched an interception and a touchdown, while catching five passes for 55 yards. —Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024

Now, just a few weeks later, Lewis is down to fourth in the rankings after three Belgians notched 110 laps to win the Backyard Ultra World Team Championships, which featured teams from 61 countries. —Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps alteration (from misdivision of an otch) of *otch, from Middle French oche

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing notch

• top-notch

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Kids Definition

notch

1 of 2 noun

ˈnäch 

1

: a cut in the shape of a V in an edge or surface

2

: a narrow pass between mountains : gap

3

: degree sense 1, step

turn the radio up a notch

notch

2 of 2 verb

1

: to cut or make a notch in

2

a

: to mark or record by a notch

b

: achieve sense 2, score

Medical Definition

notch

noun

ˈnäch 

: a V-shaped indentation (as on a bone)

notched

ˈnächt 

adjective