hike

[ hahyk ]

verb (used without object)

, hiked, hik·ing.

1. to walk or march a great distance, especially through rural areas, for pleasure, exercise, military training, or the like.

   Synonyms: backpack, trudge, trek, ramble, tramp

2. to move up or rise, as out of place or position (often followed by up ):

   My shirt hikes up if I don't wear a belt.

3. Nautical. to hold oneself outboard on the windward side of a heeling sailboat to reduce the amount of heel.

verb (used with object)

, hiked, hik·ing.

1. to move, draw, or raise with a jerk (often followed by up ):

   to hike up one's socks.

2. to increase, often sharply and unexpectedly:

   to hike the price of milk.

noun

1. a long walk or march for recreational activity, military training, or the like.
2. an increase or rise, often sharp and unexpected:

   a hike in wages.

hike

/ haɪk /

verb

1. intr to walk a long way, usually for pleasure or exercise, esp in the country
2. usually foll by up to pull or be pulled; hitch
3. tr to increase (a price)

noun

1. a long walk
2. a rise in prices, wages, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈhiker, noun

Other Words From

• hiker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hike¹

First recorded in 1800–10; perhaps dialectal variant of hitch ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of hike¹

C18: of uncertain origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take a hike, Slang. to go away because one's company is not desired.

More idioms and phrases containing hike

see take a hike .

Example Sentences

I stopped climbing for a while and instead went hiking, often by myself.

From Los Angeles Times

But following massive opposition to the tax hikes imposed by his government, the 57-year-old gained a new nickname: "Zakayo" - which is Swahili for Zacchaeus, the wealthy and unpopular Jericho tax collector featured in the Bible.

From BBC

“Precious pieces of wood saved from other projects or found while hiking, ideas that came to us in the middle of the night and a desire to create beautiful, useful things.”

From Los Angeles Times

During a heated discussion of the proposed wage boosts, several council members questioned whether an analysis of the economic impact of the wage hike that was commissioned by the city had been thorough enough.

From Los Angeles Times

There was no surprise that the rate of inflation jumped again, reflecting the recent hike in the energy price cap.

From BBC

Related Words

• backpack
• explore
• hoof it
• stroll
• tramp