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
-
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:
He encounters criminals, a spell-casting witch and his opponent from the heavenly spheres, an archangel.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
The firstborn, Charles, loves his Luger and cannot keep track of a job or his second wife—a witch, according to his mother.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
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
A woman who lives alone in a house in the woods, of course – although she’s an artist, not a witch.
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026
“Spinning straw to gold is a dramatic transformation,” said the witch.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
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
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
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
One species of this tree, called the wych-, or witch-, elm, was believed by ignorant people to possess magical powers and to defend from the malice of witches the place on which it grew.
From Among the Trees at Elmridge by Ella Rodman Church
The “Odyssey” may be a thrilling Greek tale of homecoming by sea, but the true story of a Greek homecoming by land—even without witches and monsters—offers other delights to readers of ancient history.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
The original film chronicled Sally and Gillian’s quest for love while balancing their identities as witches and their familial curse.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 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
“Even witches don’t smell like that. You reek of magic.”
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
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
Even dinner ladies witched at me from behind the shiny counters.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
Instead, Thursday will effectively be the witching day as options expire one day early.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
Fittingly, Day made it in the witching hours after last year’s Niteharts Festival.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 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
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
People said it was a magic tree from the secret grove in Everica where the trees walked, whispering to the witching woman who lived among them.
From "The Reader" by Traci Chee
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.
