What does hitchhiking mean?
Hitchhiking is the practice of travelling by getting rides from passing cars, vans, or other vehicles, usually by standing at a suitable roadside position and signalling to drivers. It became especially associated with young travellers and countercultural travel, although people of any age may use the word for the activity itself. In sentences such as “They went hitchhiking across Europe,” the term describes both the method and the broader journey. The gerund is also commonly used before nouns, as in “hitchhiking thumb” or “hitchhiking story.” Hitchhiking can offer flexibility and a sense of independence, but its practicality and safety depend heavily on local conditions, transport networks, and the availability of considerate drivers.
nounTravel by obtaining lifts from passing vehicles, especially by standing beside a road and signalling to drivers. The term can also refer to this practice or way of travelling.
- The practice or activity of travelling by obtaining lifts from passing vehicles, especially on foot beside a road.
"They spent the summer hitchhiking through Europe."
"She had been hitchhiking for nearly a week before reaching the coast."
"The guide explains the practical and legal differences between hitchhiking and using scheduled transport."
Rare; the word is usually used as an uncountable noun.
"The accounts describe several hitchhikings across the continent."
Hitchhiking turns a roadside sign into a passport: one raised thumb can open a route across an entire country.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hitchhiking come from?
The word is formed by combining “hitch” and “hike,” both of which have obscure origins and were used in senses connected with pulling, moving, or travelling. The compound developed as a term for obtaining a lift while travelling on foot, while the ending “-ing” gives the modern gerund and noun form. “Hitchhiker,” “hitchhiked,” and “hitchhikes” are later forms developed from the same verbal base.
Related word forms
How hitchhiking is actually used
As a noun, it is commonly used in activities such as “go hitchhiking.” It can also function attributively before another noun, as in “hitchhiking thumb.” The activity may involve safety risks and can be restricted or discouraged in some places.