MEANING
1. To move or change by successive increments, often in one direction or with limited reversal.
2. A mechanism with teeth and a catch that permits controlled motion in one direction while limiting reverse motion.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- ratchet up pressure
- ratchet down tension
On the page
Each new restriction ratcheted up the pressure on the household.
The warnings ratcheted the tension higher without naming the danger.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- ratchet
- Past tense
- ratcheted
- Past participle
- ratcheted
- Present participle
- ratcheting
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- ratchet
- Present continuous
- am/is/are ratcheting
- Present perfect
- have/has ratcheted
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been ratcheting
- Past
- ratcheted
- Past continuous
- was/were ratcheting
- Past perfect
- had ratcheted
- Past perfect continuous
- had been ratcheting
- Future
- will ratchet
- Future continuous
- will be ratcheting
- Future perfect
- will have ratcheted
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been ratcheting
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Explore related collections
Usage notes
Primary category: horror. Forms: ratchet; ratchets; ratcheted; ratcheted; ratcheting Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Third-person singular: ratchets.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
Keep a thought for later. Sign in to save privately.