hitchhike

verb

hitch·​hike ˈhich-ˌhīk How to pronounce hitchhike (audio)
hitchhiked; hitchhiking; hitchhikes

intransitive verb

1
: to travel by securing free rides from passing vehicles
2
: to be carried or transported by chance or unintentionally
destructive insects hitchhiking on ships

transitive verb

: to solicit and obtain (a free ride) especially in a passing vehicle
hitchhiker noun

Examples of hitchhike in a Sentence

Her car broke down, so she had to hitchhike back home. He hitchhiked his way across the country last summer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But that’s very much the reason, coming from that talk with Bob, that the movie opens with him at the station, hitchhiking into New York, and ends with him on the back of a motorcycle, riding away. Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Dec. 2024 Once in the woods, Napoletano asked to be let out of the car to go to the bathroom, and hitchhiked back to Placerville. Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024 In fact, apart from the first caravans in 2018 and 2019 -- which were provided buses to ride part of the way north -- no caravan has ever reached the border walking or hitchhiking in any cohesive way. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 29 Nov. 2024 Buy Now 09 of 15 'Into the Wild' by John Krakauer In April 1992, a well-off young man hitchhiked to Alaska and embarked on a solo journey into the punishing wilderness, following in the footsteps of his heroes Jack London and John Muir. Lizz Schumer, People.com, 28 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hitchhike 

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hitchhike was in 1923

Dictionary Entries Near hitchhike

Cite this Entry

“Hitchhike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hitchhike. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

hitchhike

verb
hitch·​hike ˈhich-ˌhīk How to pronounce hitchhike (audio)
: to travel by securing free rides from passing vehicles
hitchhiker noun

More from Merriam-Webster on hitchhike

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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