witch
noun
a person, especially a woman, who professes or is supposed to practice magic or sorcery; a sorceress.
witch
American
[wich]
/ wɪtʃ /
noun
-
witches
plural
-
a person, especially a woman, who professes or is supposed to practice magic or sorcery; a sorceress.
This novel was about a meek businessman marrying a beautiful witch who uses her magic to help him succeed in business.
-
a woman who is supposed to have evil or wicked magical powers.
The movie features stereotypical witches in black robes and pointed hats.
-
a person who practices magic as a spiritual observance, especially as associated with neopaganism or Wicca.
She became a witch after an interest in tarot and astrology led her to classes at a local mystic shop.
-
an ugly or mean old woman; hag.
She was constantly in conflict with the old witch who used to own the building.
-
a person who uses a divining rod; dowser.
They hired a water witch to find the best location for the new well.
verb (used with object)
-
witches,
present (3rd person singular)
-
witched,
past participle, past
-
witching
present participle
-
to bring or cause by or as if by witchcraft (often followed by into, to, etc.).
She witched him into going.
-
Archaic. to affect as if by witchcraft; bewitch; charm.
verb (used without object)
-
witches,
present (3rd person singular)
-
witched,
past participle, past
-
witching
present participle
adjective
witch
1
British
/ wɪtʃ /
noun
-
historically, in mythology and fiction, a woman believed to practise magic or sorcery, esp black magic
-
a practitioner of a Nature-based religion founded on ancient beliefs, which honours both a male and female divine principle and includes the practice of magic, esp healing magic, and divination
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informal an ugly or wicked woman
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a fascinating or enchanting woman
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short for water witch
verb
-
(tr) to cause or change by or as if by witchcraft
-
a less common word for bewitch
witch
2
British
/ wɪtʃ /
noun
witch-
3
British
prefix
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
witchsimple
-
witchessimple
-
have witchedperfect
-
has witchedperfect
-
am witchingprogressive
-
are witchingprogressive
-
is witchingprogressive
-
have been witchingperfect progressive
-
has been witchingperfect progressive
Past
-
witchedsimple
-
had witchedperfect
-
was witchingprogressive
-
were witchingprogressive
-
had been witchingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of witch
First recorded before 900; Middle English wicche, Old English wicce, feminine of wicca “wizard”; cf. wicked
Explanation
A witch is a person with magical powers. Most towns have a spooky old woman with a lot of cats who all the neighborhood kids suspect of being a witch. The classic picture of a witch is a woman dressed in black with a tall, pointy hat, a broom, and an ugly face — this kind of witch is a popular Halloween costume. Another kind of witch is a serious believer in the religion called Wicca. The word witch is also used to describe someone who's old and unattractive — or, conversely, a young enchantress, a girl capable of bewitching a man.
Vocabulary lists containing witch
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:
In addition to “Hexed,” a magical coming-of-age adventure about a young girl named Billie who discovers she’s a witch that will hit theaters Nov. 25, Disney Animation announced “Clay” for 2028.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
Before a first-grade production of “Hansel and Gretel,” for example, parents are assured that Gretel would not be pushing the witch into an oven but instead will hold “a generative dialogue” about loneliness.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
While Kiki’s coming-of-age year as a witch requires her to live on her own, she’s never alone and can’t succeed without other people.
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026
He battled oversize cannibals, outmaneuvered a witch and lost scores of men at every turn.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
Jack crashed to the floor, landing right on top of the witch.
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
At the same time, she has made it clear that there will be no witch- hunts in the army if she is elected.
From Time Magazine Archive
The squat structures were nearly saturated with rich men, sportsmen, society men and their ladies, when out on the magic carpet the witch- ery which had drawn them from across the world began.
From Time Magazine Archive
But the Evangelicals tolerate a somewhat broader range of Bible interpretation and cultural outlook, and tend to be against doctrinal witch- hunts.
From Time Magazine Archive
The woman stood as if petrified; but he continued, "You have said a great truth, witch- mother; and, as they have neither drowned nor burned you yet, you shall be paid for your proverb."
From Autobiography: Truth and Fiction Relating to My Life by John Oxenford
There are many other instances of a like nature showing the important position assigned to girls and young women in the esoteric rites, secret societies, magic, sorcery, and witch- craft of primitive peoples.
From The Child and Childhood in Folk-Thought Studies of the Activities and Influences of the Child Among Primitive Peoples, Their Analogues and Survivals in the Civilization of To-Day by Alexander F. Chamberlain
While not on par with battling carnivorous Cyclops or world-weary witches, getting a ticket to “The Odyssey,” even after opening weekend, is a voyage filled with many obstacles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
Angle and his team call it the Familiar—the same term witches use for their supernatural animal companions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026
“The Conjuring” series, “Ready Or Not,” “Weapons,” “Longlegs” and “Bring Her Back” are all about witches, devils or Satan-worshippers.
From Salon ● Apr. 1, 2026
Mr. Fry is at his best in his readings of Harry’s adventures among witches, wizards and Muggles, which came on the American market last year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025
Mr. Pepperhorn looked at the council members expectantly, and he along with Mr. Dimblewit and three other witches from the Hill voted to send her away.
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
Eichel s witched agents last month and is now represented by Creative Artists Agency’s Pat Brisson, who represents numerous high-profile NHL players.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 18, 2021
Since then, he’s witched - or doused - for unmarked graves at other cemeteries in southeast Nebraska, and for his wife’s family in Kansas.
From Washington Times ● May 9, 2015
In the eyes of oldtime politicians Franklin Roosevelt has be witched the U. S. people with his smile, the toss of his head, the hearty frankness of his manner.
From Time Magazine Archive
Ballyhooed by this handbill, "Doc" Rockefeller witched dollars out of the pop-eyed citizenry of Midwestern hamlets before the Civil War.
From Time Magazine Archive
“Only a certified idiot would set foot in there. Place is witched, and a deathtrap to boot.”
From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs
Triple witching days, when multiple options expire, can lead to higher trading volume and market volatility.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
Higher volatility is also a hallmark of triple witching, according to Mike Thompson, co-CIO at Little Harbor Advisors.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 19, 2026
Maybe this duo hasn’t monetized their show quite yet, and if that’s the case, perhaps they could choose a time other than the witching hour to record their macabre podcast?
From Salon ● Mar. 15, 2026
Yet these stories have real heft and depth and will linger in the imagination well beyond the witching time of year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2025
Perhaps, she told herself, this was what they called the witching hour.
From "The BFG" by Roald Dahl
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.
