ratchet

UK: /ˈrætʃɪt/ US: /ˈrætʃɪt/ ,(rach′it)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ratch•et /ˈrætʃɪt/   n. [countable]

1. Mechanical Engineering a toothed wheel or bar, with a bar that fits into its teeth so that it turns in one direction only.

v. 

2. to move by degrees: [~ + object + up/down]
   hoped to ratchet the economy up.
   [~ + up/down + object]
   Unemployment managed to ratchet down the economy.
   [no object* ~ + up/down]
   hoping the economy would ratchet up in time for the election.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ratch•et  (rach′it), n. 

1. Mechanical Engineering a toothed bar with which a pawl engages.
2. Mechanical Engineering (not in technical use) a pawl or the like used with a ratchet or ratchet wheel.
3. Mechanical Engineering a mechanism consisting of such a bar or wheel with the pawl.
4. Mechanical Engineering See ratchet wheel. 
5. a steady progression up or down:
   the upward ratchet of oil prices.

v.t., v.i. 

6. to move by degrees (often fol. by up or down):
   to ratchet prices up; Interest rates have been ratcheting downward.

• Gmc
• 1650–60; alteration of French rochet; Middle French rocquet a blunt lance-head

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ratchet / 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

verb

1. to operate using a ratchet

Etymology: 17th Century: from French rochet, from Old French rocquet blunt head of a lance, of Germanic origin: compare Old High German rocko distaff