notch

American  

[noch] / nɒtʃ /

noun

1. an angular or V -shaped cut, indentation, or slit in an object, surface, or edge.

2. a cut or nick made in a stick or other object for record, as in keeping a tally.

3. New England and Upstate New York. a deep, narrow opening or pass between mountains; gap; defile.

4. Informal. a step, degree, or grade.

   This camera is a notch better than the other.

5. Metallurgy. a taphole in a blast furnace.

   iron notch; cinder notch.

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verb (used with object)

notches, present (3rd person singular) notched, past participle, past notching present participle

1. to cut or make a notch in.

2. to record by notches.

   He notched each kill on the stick.

3. to score, as in a game.

   He notched another win.

idioms

1. notch up / down, to move up or down or increase or decrease by notches or degrees.

   The temperature has notched up another degree.

notch British  

/ nɒtʃ /

noun

1. a V-shaped cut or indentation; nick

2. a cut or nick made in a tally stick or similar object

3. a narrow pass or gorge

4. informal a step or level (esp in the phrase a notch above )

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verb

1. to cut or make a notch in

2. to record with or as if with a notch

3. informal (usually foll by up) to score or achieve

   the team notched up its fourth win

notch More Idioms  

1. see take down a notch.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• notchy
  adjective
• unnotched
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have notched
  perfect
• has notched
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have been notching
  perfect progressive
• notches
  singular 3rd person
• notching
  participle
• are notching
  progressive
• has been notching
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is notching
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am notching
  progressive 1st person singular

Past

• had notched
  perfect
• had been notching
  perfect progressive
• was notching
  progressive singular
• were notching
  progressive plural
• notched
  participle
• notched
  simple

Future

• will notch
  simple
• will have notched
  perfect
• will have been notching
  perfect progressive
• will be notching
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of notch

1570–80; a notch (by false division) for an *otch < Old French oche notch

Explanation

A notch is a small cut or nick in something. People make notches to keep track of things. If you've even seen a little U-shaped or V-shaped cut in something, you've seen a notch. In prison, criminals will make notches on the wall to keep track of how long they've been there. If you're stranded on a desert island, you might make notches on a tree. When you make a notch, you're notching. A notch is also part of a mountain range that is lower than the peaks around it — also called a mountain pass.

Example Sentences

Shares will notch their longest run of daily gains since March 2018 if they finish in the green on Tuesday, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

The Mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani took his Arsenal super-fandom up a notch on Wednesday when he attended Eid al-Adha prayers in the Bronx wearing an Arsenal themed kurta.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

There are even some corporate issuers that have the same or higher credit rating as the U.S. government: Microsoft, for example, is rated triple-A, with the U.S. one notch below that.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

A week that saw stocks notch several days of record highs ended on a down note, as artificial intelligence optimism took a back seat to worries over rising interest rates and geopolitics.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

I felt the pressure in my chest and shoulders tick up a notch and fought the urge to tap the arm of the chair.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

Related Words

• rung