HIIT

abbreviation or noun

ˈhit 

: a form of interval training that alternates very brief periods (such as 20 to 40 seconds) of intense exercise at maximum effort with periods (such as 15 to 30 seconds) of less intense exercise : high-intensity interval training

HIIT, or high-intensity interval training, is a training technique that requires you to perform quick, intense bursts of exercise, followed by short and active recovery periods.

—Sudhakar Jha

Examples of HIIT in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Best for work/office friendly sneakers Everyday lifestyle/athleisure Basketball sneakers Tennis and pickleball sneakers HIIT and cross-training sneakers Weightlifting sneakers Not sure if your sneaker fits into one of the above categories? —Paige Levinson, SELF, 17 Mar. 2025

Compared to a control group, the HIIT group had improved sleep quality and less daytime sleepiness. —Jesse Pines, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025

Types of workouts: Strength, HIIT Cost: $15/month; $120/year Free Trial? —Jenny McCoy, Glamour, 14 Feb. 2025

In their everyday training—mainly lifting and HIIT workouts—football players work their larger muscles (say, glutes and quads) that prime them for explosion and momentum, Schiller explains. —Danielle Zickl, SELF, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above