Meaning & use
winch out
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Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
to pull someone or something free from a stuck position using a winch, a machine with a rope or cable wound on a drum.
Grammar: Often takes an object: winch the truck out. It can also stand alone when the thing being rescued is already clear: we winched out before dark.
Patterns
- winch something out
- winch someone out of something
- winch out of something
The driver used a steel cable to winch the truck out of the mud.
Rescuers winched the climber out of the narrow crack in the ice.
Our boat ran aground, so a passing fishing vessel had to winch us out.
verbtransitive
to lift or move something out of a place by winding a rope or cable around a winch.
Grammar: Takes an object; the object is usually the thing being lifted or pulled: winch the crate out of the hold.
Patterns
- winch something out of something
- winch something out
Workers winched the heavy pump out of the flooded basement.
They winched the sunken crate out of the water and onto the deck.
Word forms
| third person singular | winches out |
|---|---|
| past tense | winched out |
| past participle | winched out |
| -ing form | winching out |
Common combinations
- winch a vehicle out
- A tow truck came to winch the vehicle out of the ditch.
- winch someone out of danger
- The helicopter crew winched the sailors out of danger.
- winch out of the mud
- It took two hours to winch out of the mud.
- winch a car out
- He winched his car out after the storm.
- winch out onto the deck
- The crane winched the container out onto the deck.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pull out
- A general phrase for removing something from a place; it does not say that a winch or cable was used.
- haul out
- Suggests heavy pulling, often with equipment, but not necessarily a winch.
- drag out
- Means pulling something along with effort, usually without a machine.
- extract
- A formal word for taking something out; it does not suggest the tool or method.
Opposites
Word family
- winch noun
- the machine with a rope or cable used for pulling.
- winching noun
- the act of pulling something with a winch.
Commonly confused: winch out or wrench out? winch out or wince?
winch out vs wrench out
Wrench means to twist or pull sharply with force; a winch is a machine, so winch out describes a mechanical rescue.
winch out vs wince
Wince means to react with a small movement of pain or embarrassment; it sounds similar but has nothing to do with pulling.
Practice
Which sentence uses "winch out" correctly?
Choose one answer.
"Winch something out of something" is the standard pattern, so "winched the car out of the ditch" fits. Option 2 uses the wrong preposition, option 3 drops "the" before "ditch," and option 4 puts the words in an impossible order.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “winch out”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.