What does hitchhiker mean?
A hitchhiker is someone who travels by getting rides from passing vehicles, usually after walking to a roadside or other suitable pickup point. The term is especially associated with people who travel on a low budget or seek an unconventional journey, although it can simply describe the act of obtaining a lift. “Hitchhiker” may also refer more broadly to a person whose travels depend on opportunities offered by strangers. In everyday usage, the word carries a sense of independence and adventure, but it can also suggest vulnerability because a hitchhiker must rely on drivers for transportation. The related gesture of extending a thumb to request a ride has made the phrase “hitchhiker thumb” a familiar part of modern English.
nounA person who travels on foot or by other means, obtaining rides from passing vehicles, especially by asking drivers for a lift. The term can also refer to someone who travels in this way as a general practice or lifestyle.
- A person who travels by obtaining rides from passing vehicles, especially on foot.
- A person who travels in this way as a general practice or lifestyle.
"The hitchhiker waited by the roadside until a truck driver offered to take her to the next town."
"Several hitchhikers gathered near the entrance to the motorway."
"His travels as a hitchhiker took him across Europe and into Asia."
The standard plural is formed by adding -s.
"The group of hitchhikers shared food and information about the route ahead."
The phrase “thumbs up” comes from hitchhiking, when a raised thumb was used to signal drivers that a lift was wanted.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hitchhiker come from?
The word is formed from “hitch,” meaning a short journey or a ride obtained without payment, and “hiker,” a person who walks or travels on foot. The compound “hitchhike” developed in the early 20th century, when travelling on foot and accepting rides from passing vehicles was a familiar form of transport. The expression “hitchhiker’s thumb,” referring to the raised thumb used to signal drivers, also developed in the 20th century.
Related word forms
How hitchhiker is actually used
The word is common in both British and American English. It is often associated with informal, unconventional travel, and can be used figuratively when describing a person who depends on other people’s help to make progress.
Easily confused with hitchhiker
A hitchhiker specifically obtains rides from passing vehicles, whereas a traveller may use many forms of transport and need not rely on lifts.
A backpacker typically travels while carrying a backpack and may use any means of transport; a hitchhiker specifically seeks rides from vehicles.