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
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Slang Meaning of Ratchet
Ratchet also means “trashy and disorderly, sometimes in a good way.” Learn more>
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
Benjamin Tepler, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
Having no security pledge on the bonds would very likely ratchet up the cost of debt service payments, Marlowe said.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 18 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The investigation ratcheted up an extraordinary clash between the nation's top central banker and the White House, which has urged the Fed to significantly reduce interest rates.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ratchet
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Noun
If you’re headed out into mixed conditions and never want to touch a strap or ratchet a binding again, this is the snowshoe for you.
—Benjamin Tepler, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
Having no security pledge on the bonds would very likely ratchet up the cost of debt service payments, Marlowe said.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
As an avalanche and dead bodies ratchet up the suspense, Zach must lean on his mother’s wisdom to fight for his life while deciphering a confusing undercurrent of danger, violence and betrayal among the survivors.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The investigation ratcheted up an extraordinary clash between the nation's top central banker and the White House, which has urged the Fed to significantly reduce interest rates.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ratchet
Cite this Entry
“Ratchet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratchet. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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