Showing results for "ratchet"

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Slang dictionary results for ratchet.

ratchet

¹ American  

[rach-it] / ˈrætʃ ɪt /

noun

ratchets plural

1. a toothed bar with which a pawl engages.

2. (not in technical use) a pawl or the like used with a ratchet or ratchet wheel.

3. a mechanism consisting of such a bar or wheel with the pawl.

4. ratchet wheel.

5. a steady progression up or down.

   the upward ratchet of oil prices.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to move by degrees (often followed by up ordown ).

   to ratchet prices up;

   Interest rates have been ratcheting downward.

ratchet ² American  

[rach-it] / ˈrætʃ ɪt /

Also ratched

adjective

Slang.

1. flashy, unrefined, etc.; low-class.

   ratchet girls wearing too much makeup.

2. exhibiting or affirming low-class traits in a way that is considered authentic.

   Better to stay a ratchet bitch than become a bougie poser like her.

3. extremely good; awesome.

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ratchet British  

/ ˈrætʃɪt /

noun

1. a device in which a toothed rack or wheel is engaged by a pawl to permit motion in one direction only

2. the toothed rack or wheel forming part of such a device

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verb

1. to operate using a ratchet

2. to increase or decrease, esp irreversibly

   electricity prices will ratchet up this year

   Hitchcock ratchets up the tension once again

Usage

What else does ratchet mean? Ratchet is a slang term that can mean "exciting" or "excellent," often used as a term of empowerment among women. Some may also use ratchet for when they are feeling "bad" in some way. The term has been previously used, however, as an insult characterizing a woman as being "overdramatic" or "promiscuous."

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• ratchetness
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• ratchets
  plural

Etymology

Origin of ratchet¹

First recorded in 1650–60; alteration of French rochet; Middle French rocquet “a blunt lance-head,” from Germanic; compare Old High German rocko, roccho “distaff”

Origin of ratchet²

First recorded in 1990–95; from a dance and genre of hip-hop music originating in Shreveport, Louisiana

Explanation

A ratchet is a gadget with mechanical teeth on a wheel that moves in only one direction. Therefore, ratcheting is to move something slowly in one direction. A ratchet is a device that allows you to move or crank something in a specific direction: a ratchet only moves one way. You can tell a ratchet by the wheel of mechanical teeth. Ratchets are part of larger devices, especially in factories. Also, if you ratchet something up or down, you're gradually moving it in that direction. You can ratchet something physically, or a great speaker could ratchet up the energy in a crowd.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ratchet ratchets

The bartenders and servers, some dressed in light-up rave gear, were trying to ratchet up excitement by passing around stickers.

From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026

Pinterest, like many internet companies, must often ratchet marketing and other spend higher to compete.

From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026

One casualty was a Texas plant built to make Craftsman-brand wrenches and ratchet sets that had been coming from China.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026

“To ratchet up the pressure,” his lawsuit says, the firm “froze his tokens,” meaning they could not be transferred to anyone.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026

But to Mulch, each cog had a distinctive signature and when a ratchet caught, it was so loud as to be deafening.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

Richard is fully prepared for the World Cup: he has a passion for England memorabilia, including a scarf touched by King Charles, and a collection of hats, ratchets and horns.

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

For Braun, it ratchets up longer-running challenges of keeping Coke’s brands relevant with a new generation as fewer Americans drink soda and as they tighten their purse strings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026

This ratchets up complaints about spoilers: Adams had to be driven from the race first.

From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2025

Woman Is A Tree opens with discordant harmonies, inspired by cult horror show Yellowjackets; while broiling anti-war anthem Rifles ratchets its tempo ever-upwards.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2025

I love how the sky stays light right into evening, how Lake Michigan gets busy with sailboats and the heat ratchets up to the point that it’s almost impossible to recall the struggles of winter.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• disk
• drum
• roller