ratchet

1 of 2

noun

ratch·​et ˈra-chət 

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

ratchet

2 of 2

verb

variants or less commonly rachet

ratcheted also racheted; ratcheting also racheting; ratchets also rachets

transitive verb

: to cause to move by steps or degrees

—usually used with up or down

tried to ratchet down the debt

intransitive verb

: to proceed by steps or degrees

Did you know?

Slang Meaning of Ratchet

Ratchet also means “trashy and disorderly, sometimes in a good way.” Learn more>

Synonyms

Verb

• abate
• de-escalate
• decline
• decrease
• die (away or down or out)
• diminish
• drain (away)
• drop (off)
• dwindle
• ease
• ebb
• fall
• fall away
• lessen
• let up
• lower
• moderate
• pall
• phase down
• recede
• relent
• remit
• shrink
• subside
• taper
• taper off
• wane

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

Noun

The idea of doctors posing as podcasters to make men more suggestible is already a winner, but the language the doctors employ to complete the ruse ratchets up the comedy. —Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2025

More than 70 steel teeth along the frame and seven at the toe provided reliable grip even on icy sections, and ratchet straps on the upper foot kept our tester’s footwear from slipping and sliding during testing in Montana. —Adam Roy, Outside Online, 17 Jan. 2025

Verb

The composers have a WarioWare library’s worth of FX: Tiny alarms for a shocked face; rippling winds to signal someone in deep thought; kitschy screams to ratchet up the suspense; the gratifying whoosh when a vote parchment is read. —Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Feb. 2025

These moments can be exciting, ratcheting up the tension of an encounter as natural forces and world physics impact the flow of the game. —Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

alteration of earlier rochet, from French, alteration of Middle French rocquet ratchet, bobbin, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German rocko distaff — more at rock

First Known Use

Noun

1654, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1972, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for ratchet

• hatchet

Kids Definition

ratchet

noun

ratch·​et

ˈrach-ət

1

: a mechanical device that consists of a bar or wheel having slanted teeth into which a pawl drops so as to allow motion in one direction only

2

: pawl