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
Drew Zieff, Outside Online, 11 Oct. 2024
With each passing day, as your estrogen level ratchets up, everything can get puffier and more tender (yes, including your boobs), and mood swings could be on the docket.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 4 Oct. 2024
Lorie Konish, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2024
Governments have ratcheted up spending on defense in recent years as security threats have proliferated, including Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
—Anna Cooban, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ratchet 
Noun
While testers appreciated the simple design and clean, comfy, and smooth straps and ratchets, multiple riders lamented a lack of forward lean adjustment.
—Drew Zieff, Outside Online, 11 Oct. 2024
With each passing day, as your estrogen level ratchets up, everything can get puffier and more tender (yes, including your boobs), and mood swings could be on the docket.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
As the equity market has reached new all-time highs, investors have ratcheted up their expectations for higher returns.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2024
Governments have ratcheted up spending on defense in recent years as security threats have proliferated, including Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
—Anna Cooban, CNN, 16 Oct. 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 5 Nov. 2024.
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