hiked; hiking
Synonyms of hikenext

intransitive verb

1
a
: to go on a hike
b
: to travel by any means
2
: to rise up
especially : to work upward out of place
skirt had hiked up in back

transitive verb

1
a
: to move, pull, or raise with a sudden motion
hiked himself onto the top bunk
c
: to raise in amount sharply or suddenly
hike rents
2
: to take on a hike
3
: to traverse on a hike
hike a trail
hiker noun

hike

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
: a long walk especially for pleasure or exercise see also take a hike
2
: an increase especially in quantity or amount
a new wage hike
3

hiker

3 of 3

noun (2)

hik·​er
-kə(r)
plural -s
: one that hikes
especially : a person who goes on a hike for pleasure or exercise

Examples of hike in a Sentence

Verb We spent the afternoon hiking around the lake. She hiked 10 miles in the hot desert sun. We hiked some of the shorter trails. Our neighbors spent their vacation hiking the Rockies. The state keeps hiking the tax on cigarettes. There's talk of hiking the eligibility age. I hiked myself onto the ledge. Noun (1) We went for a hike around the lake. The school lost a number of students after the tuition hike.
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.
Verb
Someone wants to hike; someone else would rather browse antique shops; a few people are already asking what’s for dinner. — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026 Authorities warned against hiking this route this time of year due to deteriorating conditions and the onset of winter weather. — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Noun
The movement has reached almost unprecedented proportions, with other sectors joining the students, demanding better learning conditions and fighting against the cost-of-living crisis, hike in fuel prices, and erosion of social welfare. — Alessia Armenise, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2026 And all signs point to more interest rate hikes, leading to more costly debt. — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hike

Word History

Etymology

Verb

perhaps akin to hitch entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1809, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hike was in 1809

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hike. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

hiked; hiking
1
: to move or raise up
hike rents
2
: to go on a long walk
hiker noun

hike

2 of 2 noun
1
: a long walk especially for pleasure or exercise
2
: an upward movement : rise
a price hike

More from Merriam-Webster on hike

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