ratcheted

Ratcheted is an adjective derived from ratchet, used to describe something that has been advanced or escalated in discrete steps or secured in successive positions. It often implies a progression in increments rather than a smooth or reversible change, and can refer to mechanical settings as well as figurative increases.

In mechanical engineering, a ratchet is a device consisting of a gear with teeth and a pawl that engages the teeth to permit motion in one direction while preventing motion in the opposite direction. When a component is described as ratcheted, it typically means it has been adjusted to a specific position in steps or locked into successive positions. Examples include ratcheted wrenches, ratcheted bands or straps, and other control mechanisms that advance in discrete increments.

In everyday and professional language, “ratcheted up” or “ratcheting” denotes escalation in stages, often with implications that reversal is difficult. This usage appears in discussions of pricing, funding, policy, or standards. Ratchet clauses or ratcheting mechanisms are contractual or regulatory features designed to lock in higher levels over time, sometimes tying future levels to indices or performance metrics.

In economics and the sciences, ratcheting describes cumulative, often irreversible progression: once a threshold is crossed, subsequent changes build on the previous state and raise the baseline. The term is frequently linked with the concept of a ratchet effect, which characterizes systems that resist rollback and continue advancing in a stepwise fashion.