notch

American  

[noch] / nɒtʃ /

noun

notches plural

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• notches
  plural

Participles

• notching
  present
• notched
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• notch
  simple
• notches
  simple
• have notched
  perfect
• has notched
  perfect
• am notching
  progressive
• are notching
  progressive
• is notching
  progressive
• have been notching
  perfect progressive
• has been notching
  perfect progressive

Past

• notched
  simple
• had notched
  perfect
• was notching
  progressive
• were notching
  progressive
• had been notching
  perfect progressive

Future

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

Triple Eight distilled its first whiskey in 2000, and introduced its first bottling, called the Notch, in 2008.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026

The scientists found that a developmental signal known as Notch plays an important but time-sensitive role in immune cell formation.

From Science Daily • Jan. 20, 2026

Polls open just after midnight in Dixville Notch, so the town’s six registered voters are the first to vote in the New Hampshire primary.

From Slate • Jan. 26, 2024

Haley swept the first precinct to vote, a traditional midnight meeting of voters in Dixville Notch.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2024

The Profile House at Franconia Notch had its own private railway line to Bethlehem Junction eight miles away; its grounds held twenty-one cottages, each with up to twelve bedrooms.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• rung