Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

crochet

American  
[kroh-shay, kroh-shay, -shee] / kroʊˈʃeɪ, ˈkroʊ ʃeɪ, -ʃi /

noun

  • crochets
    plural
  1. needlework done with a needle having a small hook at one end for drawing the thread or yarn through intertwined loops.


verb (used with or without object)

  • crochets,
    present (3rd person singular)
  • crocheted,
    past participle,  past
  • crocheting
    present participle
  1. to form by crochet.

crochet British  
/ ˈkrəʊʃeɪ, -ʃɪ /

verb

  1. to make (a piece of needlework, a garment, etc) by looping and intertwining thread with a hooked needle ( crochet hook )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. work made by crocheting

  2. architect another name for crocket

  3. zoology a hooklike structure of insect larvae that aids locomotion

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future


Etymology

Origin of crochet

1840–50; < French: knitting needle, literally, small hook, diminutive of croche, croc < Middle English or Scandinavian. See crook 1, -et


Explanation

You can crochet by winding loops of yarn around a crochet hook, creating little knots that form patterns and — eventually — blankets, pillow covers, doilies, or hot pads. If your brother wants to make an afghan out of rainbow-colored yarn, he should learn how to crochet, or to make textiles by looping yarn with a special hook. Crocheting is similar to knitting, but people who crochet use a different tool. The word crochet comes from French and is therefore pronounced "crow shay." The root word is croc, or "hook."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing crochet

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.

See Examples For:

If someone makes the Sailor Slippers, you can talk to them about how the original creator filed a copyright takedown against a designer who adapted the pattern for crochet.

From Slate ● Oct. 11, 2026

“I’ll crochet there or just sit there—that’s me decompressing. It’s everything. It’s my happy place.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026

Someone had discarded a handmade crochet poncho in soft earth tones on the back of a chair.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

How to get the look: Who, What, Wear, external says think about accessories - scarfs, crochet beanie caps or eye-catching hair clips, charms or cuffs.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

A miniature Aunt Pretty sat in her chair, holding a toothpick-size crochet hook.

From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney

"She's very introverted. She likes to stay home and do little hobbies. She knits and crochets."

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

She also is involved in her church and crochets.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 23, 2022

And he crochets: Crawford is part of Needle Wizards, a group that knits clothes and teddy bears for cancer patients and homeless shelters.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 21, 2018

Jeunette says she thinks of the little child who will someday sleep in her pale pink blanket as she crochets it.

From Washington Times ● May 27, 2018

We ought to refuse to give our tongue such licence when a friend's crochets and whimsies are in question.

From Herb of Grace by Rosa Nouchette Carey

Walters gave him a box filled with handmade items, including piles of mittens, hats, and other items he’d crocheted for children; Collins dropped the box off with a church deacon.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

Tucked under her bed and behind cabinets he found more than 50 pieces—including crocheted top hats and sausage-like sculptures—that she’d created.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 2026

Later, Mars and Lady Gaga cosplayed a version of “California Dreamin’,” with Stefani Germanotta donning a crocheted cap and prairie dress and going overboard with a kooky psychedelic lean.

From Salon ● Feb. 3, 2025

Mrs Forster believes the knitted and crocheted figures have caught the imagination "because it's different and because people can relate to it".

From BBC ● Jan. 19, 2025

“Right over here,” she answered, pulling back the covers on May’s bed, the pink-and-brown afghan May had crocheted with popcorn stitches.

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd

Two weeks before the show, young seamstresses were crocheting floral motifs in mohair and Japanese metallic thread at a south London studio overlooking the Thames river and Big Ben.

From Barron's ● Feb. 18, 2026

Fiber arts like knitting, crocheting, and embroidery have never been completely apolitical.

From Slate ● Jan. 29, 2026

Dow is also known for her crocheting skills and has crafted items such as a golden rose to commemorate Marlie Packer's 100th cap.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2025

She said the response to the cafe's "offline nights" had been positive so far, adding: "There were strangers sat on tables together, and a lot of skill sharing such as knitting and crocheting."

From BBC ● Mar. 9, 2025

Pudge was hunched over crocheting a tablecloth under her desk.

From "Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution" by Ji-li Jiang

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training