1
: a bent part of an axle or shaft or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft by which circular motion is imparted to or received from the shaft or by which reciprocating motion is changed into circular motion or vice versa
2
3
: crystal meth
specifically
: an impure form of crystal meth
cranked; cranking; cranks
1
: to move with a winding course : zigzag
2
a
: to turn a crank
b
: to get started by or as if by the turning of a crank
c
: to gain speed, momentum, or intensity
—usually used with up
the campaign is cranking up
1
: to move or operate by or as if by a crank
crank the window down
2
a
: to cause to start
crank an automobile
b
: to rotate the shaft (such as a crankshaft) of especially with a starter
crank over an engine
c
: to use in trying to start an engine
crank the starter
3
a
: to start as if by use of a crank
—usually used with up
she cranked up the air conditioner
b
: turn up sense 2
—usually used with up
crank up the volume
: of, relating to, or being a bad-tempered or annoyingly eccentric person
also
: made or sent by such a person or by someone intending to be an annoyance or to cause harm
crank calls
a crank letter
1
chiefly dialectal
: merry, high-spirited
of a boat
: easily tipped : tender entry 1 sense 4d
Examples of crank in a Sentence
Noun
To open the car window, turn the crank on the door.
He was dismissed as a crank until his article was published.
Most people think she's just a harmless crank.
Verb
He cranked the temperature to 75 degrees.
Crank the engine to see if it will start.
Adjective (2)
you shouldn't feel so crank, considering that you beat the worst softball team in the league
folks around here are downright crank that a local boy won a gold medal in the Olympics
Recent Examples on the Web
Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 10 July 2025
To research … Continue reading Relatively light and compact, his model had a tricky hand crank and an eyebrow-raising $25 price tag (who could afford such convenience?).
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025
Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
The urge to drive around slowly with the windows down and the volume cranked (but with something suitably beige Volvo-ish playing on the sound system) was hard to fight on a warm spring afternoon.
—ArsTechnica, 9 July 2025
Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2025
This umbrella uses a crank system to easily open and close the canopy.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for crank
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Noun
He’s deemed a crank by Perry White, not long before kidnapping Lois.
—Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 10 July 2025
To research … Continue reading Relatively light and compact, his model had a tricky hand crank and an eyebrow-raising $25 price tag (who could afford such convenience?).
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025
Verb
The shift in tactics is welcome news for Ukraine and its European allies, who have long sought to convince Trump to crank the pressure on Putin.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
The urge to drive around slowly with the windows down and the volume cranked (but with something suitably beige Volvo-ish playing on the sound system) was hard to fight on a warm spring afternoon.
—ArsTechnica, 9 July 2025
Adjective
Other thoughtful features include crank lift and tilt capabilities, a rust-resistant pole, fade-resistant canvas, and energy-efficient bulbs.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2025
This umbrella uses a crank system to easily open and close the canopy.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for crank
Cite this Entry
“Crank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crank. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
crank
1 of 2 noun1
: a bent part of an axle or shaft or an armlike part at right angles to the end of a shaft that gives or receives circular motion
2
a
: a person with strange ideas
b
: a cross or irritable person
crank
2 of 2 verb
: to move, run, or start by or as if by turning a crank
crank up the window
you had to crank the old car
the engine isn't cranking right
Medical Definition
crank
noun
: crystal meth
specifically
: an impure form of crystal meth
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