hitchhike

[ hich-hahyk ]

verb (used without object)

, hitch·hiked, hitch·hik·ing.

1. to travel by standing on the side of the road and soliciting rides from passing vehicles.

verb (used with object)

, hitch·hiked, hitch·hik·ing.

1. to ask for or get (a ride) by hitchhiking.

noun

1. an act or instance of hitchhiking.

hitchhike

/ ˈhɪtʃˌhaɪk /

verb

1. intr to travel by obtaining free lifts in motor vehicles

Derived Forms

• ˈhitchˌhiker, noun

Other Words From

• hitchhiker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hitchhike¹

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; hitch ¹ + hike

Example Sentences

He came to Phoenix once and we went up to see him, and they got so crazy that I ended up trying to hitchhike home.

From The Daily Beast

Planning to hitchhike across the country, Sal gets off on the wrong foot.

From The Daily Beast

As we flew in, he said, ‘Will there be a TV crew at the airport, or will we have to hitchhike into town?’

From The Daily Beast

Just like when I used to hitchhike and I could go for days without eating or sleeping.

From The Daily Beast

To get here, some have had to undertake long journeys on rickety buses or hitchhike on roads made unsafe at night by bandits.

From The Daily Beast

"When I was a college kid, I used to hitchhike sometimes," Craig remarked.

From Project Gutenberg

I didn't have any money, of course, so I had to hitchhike into town.

From Project Gutenberg

Maybe after he decided where he was going he would hitchhike.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hitch