hike

hike — noun

1. a walk of several hours or more in natural areas such as hills, forests, or alon

1.nounB1
Definition

a walk of several hours or more in natural areas such as hills, forests, or along the coast, usually done for enjoyment or exercise

Example

The Watanabe family went for a hike along the mountain trail near their town.

go for a hike + along [route]

Nellie packed sandwiches and water before starting her hike up the hill.

Common collocations
  • go on a hike
  • take a hike
  • long hike
  • mountain hike
  • countryside hike
Synonyms
  • walk

    any period of walking on foot; hike is specifically a long walk in nature

  • trek

    a much longer and more difficult hike, often over several days

  • ramble

    a relaxed, leisurely countryside walk; used mainly in British English

Grammar Patterns

go on a hike

take a hike

Common Mistakes

We went for a hike around the city streets.
We went for a hike in the national park.
A hike suggests natural, outdoor terrain, not urban pavements.

2. a sudden or large rise in the price or amount of something, especially one that

2.nounB2
Definition

a sudden or large rise in the price or amount of something, especially one that people see as unfair or unwelcome

Example

The latest rent hike forced several families to move out of the building.

rent hike + forced [consequence]

Drivers were angry about the sudden fuel hike announced by the government.

sudden fuel hike + government

Common collocations
  • price hike
  • rent hike
  • tax hike
  • fuel hike
  • steep hike
  • sudden hike
  • proposed hike
  • wage hike
Synonyms
  • rise

    a general increase; hike implies a bigger or more sudden jump

  • jump

    similar in meaning to hike, but jump can be used for any sudden change, not just cost

  • increase

    neutral term for any rise in amount; hike carries a stronger negative tone

Antonyms
  • drop

    a decrease, opposite of a sudden rise

  • cut

    a reduction, often deliberate, as in a price cut or tax cut

Grammar Patterns

a [adjective] hike in [something]

a [noun] hike

Usage Note

Commonly paired with nouns for costs that people find burdensome, such as rent, tax, fuel, fare, and rate. Often appears in news reports and complaints.

Idioms

take a hike

idiom

a rude or angry way of telling someone to go away because you are annoyed with them or do not want them around

When the salesman would not leave, the old woman told him to take a hike.

The kids were bothering the cat, so their mother told them to take a hike.

hike — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While 'walk' is the most general term for moving on foot, a 'hike' specifically suggests a longer walk in natural scenery, often on uneven ground such as hills or forest trails. 'Trek' implies a much longer, more demanding journey, often spanning several days across remote areas. 'Ramble' is a British English term for a relaxed, unhurried walk in the countryside, without the sense of physical effort that 'hike' carries. For example: 'We went for a short hike up the hill behind the village.' 'They set off on a three-day trek through the Himalayas.' 'On Sunday afternoons, my grandfather enjoys a gentle ramble through the fields.'

walk ↗trek ↗ramble

Etymology

English dialectEnglish

The word 'hike' first appeared in English in the early 1800s, possibly from an English dialect word meaning 'to walk with effort' or related to 'hitch' — the idea of lifting or pulling one's feet while walking on rough ground. The sense of 'a sharp increase in price' developed in American English in the early 1900s, drawing on the idea of something being pulled or raised up suddenly.