ratchet

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He also thinks Microsoft’s price/earnings ratio could ratchet up to 20 from 16 times, which would boost the share price another 25%.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

The triple lock creates a big but unpredictable ratchet for the government’s social-spending bill: No one can guess over time how fast old-age social spending will grow.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

But a third factor is entangled in this equation: access to food and water, both of which become more difficult to acquire as wars spread and global temperatures ratchet upward.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026

And also, to Judge McKeown’s point: Won’t this one-way ratchet just completely collapse public confidence in the judiciary?

From Slate • Mar. 13, 2026

Akmon pulled a ratchet wrench from the tool belt and spun it like a noisemaker.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan