notch
Americannoun
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an angular or V -shaped cut, indentation, or slit in an object, surface, or edge.
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a cut or nick made in a stick or other object for record, as in keeping a tally.
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New England and Upstate New York. a deep, narrow opening or pass between mountains; gap; defile.
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Informal. a step, degree, or grade.
This camera is a notch better than the other.
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Metallurgy. a taphole in a blast furnace.
iron notch; cinder notch.
verb (used with object)
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to cut or make a notch in.
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to record by notches.
He notched each kill on the stick.
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to score, as in a game.
He notched another win.
idioms
noun
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a V-shaped cut or indentation; nick
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a cut or nick made in a tally stick or similar object
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a narrow pass or gorge
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informal a step or level (esp in the phrase a notch above )
verb
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to cut or make a notch in
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to record with or as if with a notch
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informal (usually foll by up) to score or achieve
the team notched up its fourth win
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing notch
This Week in Words : December 23 - 29, 2017
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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.
As tensions come back down a notch with the United States, after Europe got approval of a 2025 trade agreement over the line, the bloc is turning its focus to China.
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
Those quantum-fueled gains reignited on Thursday, as IBM shares climbed 3.5% to $264.22 to notch their highest close in three months.
From Barron's • May 28, 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
We sort of knew this anyway, of course, but Boro coming out and putting it on the record ramps up the story another notch.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
Already you are studying the foreground for a way down to the stream over the steep rocks and wondering if that notch ahead will get you through to the neighboring valley.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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.
