latched; latching; latches
1
: to lay hold with or as if with the hands or arms
—used with on or onto
2
: to associate oneself intimately and often artfully
—used with on or onto
latched onto a rich widow
: any of various devices in which mating mechanical parts engage to fasten but usually not to lock something:
a
: a fastener (as for a door) consisting essentially of a pivoted bar that falls into a notch
b
: a fastener (as for a door) in which a spring slides a bolt into a hole
also
: night latch
latched; latching; latches
: to make fast with or as if with a latch
Examples of latch in a Sentence
Noun
He lifted the latch and opened the gate.
I heard her key turn in the latch.
Recent Examples on the Web
Franco Panizo, Miami Herald, 19 May 2024
Seatbelt laws were decried as an affront to personal freedom, but most people now consider latching the seatbelt as a routine part of car travel.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 11 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for latch 
Verb
Campana took full advantage of his surprise opportunity, latching onto a long pass over the top from Sergio Busquets before blasting a half volley off the underside of the crossbar with a first touch of the ball that sent the home crowd into a euphoric celebration.
—Franco Panizo, Miami Herald, 19 May 2024
Seatbelt laws were decried as an affront to personal freedom, but most people now consider latching the seatbelt as a routine part of car travel.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 11 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for latch
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'latch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near latch
Cite this Entry
“Latch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/latch. Accessed 31 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
latch
1 of 3 verb1
: to get hold
2
: to attach oneself
latch
2 of 3 noun
: a catch (as a spring bolt) that holds a door or gate closed
latch
3 of 3 verb
: to catch or fasten by means of a latch
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