stitch
Americannoun
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one complete movement of a threaded needle through a fabric or material such as to leave behind it a single loop or portion of thread, as in sewing, embroidery, or the surgical closing of wounds.
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a loop or portion of thread disposed in place by one such movement in sewing.
to rip out stitches.
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a particular mode of disposing the thread in sewing or the style of work produced by one such method.
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one complete movement of the needle or other implement used in knitting, crocheting, netting, tatting, etc.
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the portion of work produced.
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a thread, bit, or piece of any fabric or of clothing.
to remove every stitch of clothes.
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the least bit of anything.
He wouldn't do a stitch of work.
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a sudden, sharp pain, especially in the intercostal muscles.
a stitch in the side.
verb (used with object)
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to work upon, join, mend, or fasten with or as if with stitches; sew (often followed bytogether ).
to stitch together flour sacks to make curtains; a plan that was barely stitched together.
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to ornament or embellish with stitches.
to stitch a shirt with a monogram.
verb (used without object)
idioms
noun
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a link made by drawing a thread through material by means of a needle
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a loop of yarn formed around an implement used in knitting, crocheting, etc
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a particular method of stitching or shape of stitch
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a sharp spasmodic pain in the side resulting from running or exercising
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informal (usually used with a negative) the least fragment of clothing
he wasn't wearing a stitch
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agriculture the ridge between two furrows
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to allow a loop of wool to fall off a knitting needle accidentally while knitting
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informal laughing uncontrollably
verb
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(tr) to sew, fasten, etc, with stitches
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(intr) to be engaged in sewing
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(tr) to bind together (the leaves of a book, pamphlet, etc) with wire staples or thread
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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stitchsimple
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stitchessimple
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have stitchedperfect
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has stitchedperfect
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am stitchingprogressive
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are stitchingprogressive
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is stitchingprogressive
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have been stitchingperfect progressive
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has been stitchingperfect progressive
Past
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stitchedsimple
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had stitchedperfect
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was stitchingprogressive
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were stitchingprogressive
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had been stitchingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of stitch
before 900; (noun) Middle English stiche, Old English stice a thrust, stab; cognate with German Stich prick; akin to stick 2; (v.) Middle English stichen to stab, pierce, derivative of the noun
Explanation
When a needle pulls thread through fabric and into a loop, that's a stitch. Every quilt, no matter how elaborate, starts with a single stitch. You can stitch a design on a pillow, or stitch up a hole in your jeans using stitches. Doctors sometimes stitch up patients' skin, too — if you cut yourself badly enough, you might need stitches. Another kind of stitch is a painful cramp in your stomach or side: "I stopped running when I got a stitch." If someone says, "I haven't got a stitch to wear," they're short on clothing. And being "in stitches" means laughing uncontrollably.
Vocabulary lists containing stitch
"Icarus and Daedalus"
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Sewing Away
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"Mister Monster"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Although not a big fan of Minecraft herself, Emma believes the game may have influenced Amber's desire to own one and she bought Stitch from an aquatic shop for £55.
From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026
The company is joining the trend, as styling service Stitch Fix Inc.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 29, 2026
Stitch Fix surged roughly 20% during the first week of December and has since carved out a cup-with-handle pattern.
From Barron's • Dec. 22, 2025
Through the three-year licensing arrangement, fans will be able to generate videos of themselves surfing with Stitch off the shores of Hawaii or wielding a lightsaber in front of R2-D2.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025
“Robert and William are harder on their clothes than any dock worker I’ve ever seen. Stitch up the rips while I try to put this shirt back together. I’ll tell you what I’ve been doing.”
From "Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
