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

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

Some offer ratchet action to cut large stems in incremental bites. —Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2024

After emerging from underwater, Boog’s raspy flow paints a picture of his ratchet pool party filled with booze, women and money raining from the sky. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2024

Verb

And yet, automakers are under pressure to ratchet down their vehicles’ emissions to hit governments’ increasingly ambitious standards. —Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 3 Nov. 2024

Trump has in many ways ratcheted up that rhetoric as Election Day approaches, prompting figures on both sides of the aisle to sound the alarm about how the former president might use power to target his opponents. —Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 2 Nov. 2024

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

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