hit

1 of 2

verb

ˈhit 

hit; hitting

transitive verb

1

a

: to reach with or as if with a sudden blow

His mom told him to stop hitting his sister.

b

: to come in quick forceful contact with

the ball hit the window

He was hit by a car.

The tank was hit by enemy fire.

c

: to strike (something, such as a ball) with an object (such as a bat, club, or racket) so as to impart or redirect motion

hit a fastball into the outfield

2

a

: to cause to come into contact

She accidentally hit her head getting into the car.

b

: to deliver (something, such as a blow) by action

c

: to apply forcefully or suddenly

hit the brakes

Will someone hit the lights?

3

: to affect especially detrimentally

farmers hit by drought

Many families were hit hard during the recession.

4

: to make a request of

hit his friend for 10 dollars

—often used with up

hit us up for some change

5

: to discover or meet especially by chance

prospectors hitting gold

hit a snowstorm while driving home

hit a run of bad luck

6

a

: to accord with : suit

hits public tastes

b

: reach, attain

prices hit a new high

kept digging until he hit water

She'll hit 50 on her next birthday.

c

: to arrive or appear at, in, or on

hit town

the best time to hit the stores

The newest issue hits newsstands tomorrow.

d

of fish : to bite at or on

will only hit live bait

e

: to reflect accurately

hit the right note

f

: to reach or strike (something, such as a target) especially for a score in a game or contest

couldn't seem to hit the basket

g

baseball : bat sense 2b

a player who can hit .300

7

: to indulge in excessively

He repeatedly hit the bottle [=drank alcoholic beverages excessively] and, following a wild binge, was exiled to a remote post in the mountains …

—Stanley Karnow

8

: to deal another card to (as in blackjack)

hit me

intransitive verb

1

a

: to strike a blow

boxers hitting furiously at each other

b

: to arrive with a forceful effect like that of a blow

the storm hit

2

a

: to come into contact with something

the plate shattered when it hit

b

: attack

where the terrorists would hit next

c

of a fish : strike sense 11b

d

baseball : bat sense 1

next up to hit

3

: to succeed in attaining or coming up with something

—often used with on or upon

hit on a solution

4

obsolete : to be in agreement : suit

5

of an internal combustion engine : to fire a quantity of mixed fuel and air in the cylinders (see cylinder sense 2b)

the engine wouldn't hit

hitter noun

hit

2 of 2

noun

1

: an act or instance of striking or forcefully coming in contact with someone or something : an act or instance of hitting or being hit

penalized for an illegal hit from behind

The bunker took a direct hit from the bombers.

2

a

: a stroke of luck

b

: a great success

The show was a big hit.

a compilation of the band's greatest hits

The pony rides were a hit with the kids.

3

: a telling or critical remark

4

baseball : base hit

5

: a quantity of a drug ingested at one time

took a hit of LSD

6

: a premeditated murder committed especially by a member of a crime syndicate (see syndicate entry 1 sense 3c)

a hit on a rival gang leader

7

: an instance of connecting to a particular website

a million hits per day

8

: a successful match in a search (as of a computer database or the Internet)

hitless

ˈhit-ləs 

adjective

Phrases

hit it big

: to achieve great success

hit it off

: to get along well : become friends

they hit it off immediately

hit on

: to make especially sexual overtures to

hit the books

: to study especially with intensity

hit the fan

: to have a major usually undesirable impact

hit the ground running

: to begin or proceed quickly, energetically, or effectively

hit the hay or hit the sack

: to go to bed

hit the high points or hit the high spots

: to touch on or at the most important points or places

hit the jackpot

: to become notably and unexpectedly successful

hit the nail on the head

: to be exactly right

hit the road

: leave, travel

also : to set out

hit the roof or hit the ceiling

: to give vent to a burst of anger or angry protest

hit the spot

: to give complete or special satisfaction

—used especially of food or drink

hit the wall

1

: to reach the point of physical exhaustion during strenuous activity

2

: to reach a limiting point or situation at which progress or success ceases

Synonyms

Verb

• bang
• bash
• bat
• belt
• biff
• bludgeon
• bob
• bonk
• bop
• box
• bust
• clap
• clip
• clobber
• clock
• clout
• crack
• hammer
• knock
• nail
• paste
• pound
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slog
• slug
• smack
• smite
• sock
• strike
• swat
• swipe
• tag
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• whack
• whale
• zap

Noun

• blockbuster
• megahit
• smash
• success
• supernova
• winner

Examples of hit in a Sentence

Verb

She told her son to stop hitting his sister.

She hit him hard with her purse.

The boxers hit each other with their fists.

The boxers were hitting furiously at each other.

She hit the ball right to the shortstop.

The ball hit the house.

The plate shattered when it hit the floor.

The tank was hit by enemy fire.

He was hit by a car.

The ship hit an iceberg.

Noun

The player was penalized for an illegal hit from behind.

The torpedo made a direct hit.

The pony ride was a big hit at the party.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

As the myriad plot points tangle and hit critical mass, supporting players Sarah Goldberg, Trevor White, Miriam Petche and Jay Duplass deliver gems. —Carole Horst, Variety, 14 Dec. 2024

While some destination fitness programs go morning to night, the Ranch has built in down time for napping, reading, hitting the pool or enjoying sauna, hot tub and cold plunges. —Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024

Noun

The early tax refund advance season hits in December, months before many people would actually receive tax refunds after filing their 2024 federal income tax returns next year. —Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2024

That sum is almost entirely made up of streaming activity, as millions of Americans play his biggest holiday hits on sites like Spotify. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Old English hyttan, probably from Old Norse hitta to meet with, hit

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hit

• base hit
• extra-base hit
• hard-hit
• hit-and-miss
• hit-and-run
• hit a snag
• hit back
• hit bottom
• hit hard
• hit him like a ton of bricks
• hit it
• hit it big
• hit it on the nose
• hit/knock (someone) for six
• hit list
• hit-maker
• hit-making
• hit man
• hit one's stride
• hit or miss
• hit out at
• hit parade
• hit/reach rock bottom
• hit record
• hit/strike home
• hit/strike pay dirt
• hit/strike/touch a nerve
• hit the airwaves
• hit the big five-oh
• hit the big four-oh
• hit the bottle
• hit the buffers
• hit the bull's-eye
• hit the deck
• hit the dirt
• hit the gas
• hit the ground
• hit the light
• hit the mark
• hit the pavement
• hit the showers
• hit the skids
• hit the slopes
• hit the street
• hit the streets
• hit the town
• hit the trail
• hit top gear
• hit up
• infield hit
• know what hit one
• no-hit
• one hit wonder
• pinch hit
• push/hit/press the panic button
• sacrifice hit
• scratch hit
• switch-hit
• touch/strike/hit a raw nerve

Kids Definition

hit

1 of 2 verb

ˈhit 

hit; hitting

1

a

: to strike usually with force

hit a ball

the ball hit the house

b

: to make or bring into contact with something

tipped over and hit the floor

c

: to strike something aimed at

hit the bull's-eye

2

a

: attack entry 1 sense 1

b

: to affect as if by a blow

3

: to arrive with a forceful effect

the storm hit at sundown

4

a

: to come upon : discover

hit upon the answer accidentally

b

: to get to : reach

hit town that night

prices hit a new high

c

: to reflect accurately

hits the right note

5

: to fire the charge in the cylinders

hitter noun

hit

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a blow striking an object aimed at

b

: blow entry 4 sense 1, collision

2

a

: a stroke of luck

b

: a great success

the show was a hit

3

: base hit

4

: a single dose of a narcotic drug

5

: an instance of a computer user connecting to a given website

a million hits per day

6

: a successful match in a computer search