hit; hitting
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 uphit 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
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
Stanley Karnow8
: to deal another card to (as in blackjack)
hit me
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
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)
Synonyms
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 WebDaryna Krasnolutska, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024
Butler’s less famous teammates surely do draw confidence from their on-court leader, but their sudden ability to hit three-point shots during the playoffs may also have been a random gift from the basketball gods.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2024
Up next, Levy and Reynolds will work with their mutual friend, Jackman, in Marvel’s upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine, which is set to hit theaters this summer and sees the X-Men star come out of retirement as the clawed superhero.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Apr. 2024
Over the years, tons of narcotics produced on Wa soil have hit the black market, and traffickers have smuggled them onto American shores.
—Patrick Winn, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2024
All the way through the lineup, the girls have been hitting well.
—Jim Lindgren, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
In January, an F1 tornado hit Catawba County, killing one.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2024
The affidavit noted both cars hit each other while trying to avoid other vehicles.
—Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
Peregrine falcons have made a comeback in the U.S. after large populations declines hit the species in the mid ‘90s due to pesticide contamination affected their ability to reproduce.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Apr. 2024
Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
The hits from 1989 blending delicate melodies with edgy sounds have stood the test of time, dynamically shaking the hearts and bodies of those witnessing them live.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024
Leaving the scene of a car accident without exchanging information with other drivers involved is classified as a hit and run, according to Texas law, and can lead to fines or imprisonment.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024
Mia Leggett recorded two hits, two RBIs and a triple.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
The 2024 release calendar features new installments of Planet of the Apes, Bad Boys, Inside Out, and A Quiet Place, among many others; long-dormant hits such as Twister, Gladiator, and Beetlejuice are all getting sequels, with major talent involved.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2024
Despite the poor showings from marquee basketball schools, the tournament was a hit in homes across the country.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2024
The teen rose to the challenge, flawlessly executing the 2011 hit.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 21 Mar. 2024
Last year, Neugebauer, who has led a series of riveting productions, including Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s current Broadway hit, Appropriate, was invited to direct a play at Lincoln Center.
—Adrienne Miller, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
The lack of ammunition and Russian attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities means Kyiv has to do everything to hit the enemy, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
—Daryna Krasnolutska, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024
Butler’s less famous teammates surely do draw confidence from their on-court leader, but their sudden ability to hit three-point shots during the playoffs may also have been a random gift from the basketball gods.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2024
Up next, Levy and Reynolds will work with their mutual friend, Jackman, in Marvel’s upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine, which is set to hit theaters this summer and sees the X-Men star come out of retirement as the clawed superhero.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Apr. 2024
Over the years, tons of narcotics produced on Wa soil have hit the black market, and traffickers have smuggled them onto American shores.
—Patrick Winn, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2024
All the way through the lineup, the girls have been hitting well.
—Jim Lindgren, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
In January, an F1 tornado hit Catawba County, killing one.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2024
The affidavit noted both cars hit each other while trying to avoid other vehicles.
—Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
Peregrine falcons have made a comeback in the U.S. after large populations declines hit the species in the mid ‘90s due to pesticide contamination affected their ability to reproduce.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Apr. 2024
Noun
That would be a hit for Californians struggling to find housing in an expensive state where thousands sleep on the streets.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
The hits from 1989 blending delicate melodies with edgy sounds have stood the test of time, dynamically shaking the hearts and bodies of those witnessing them live.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024
Leaving the scene of a car accident without exchanging information with other drivers involved is classified as a hit and run, according to Texas law, and can lead to fines or imprisonment.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024
Mia Leggett recorded two hits, two RBIs and a triple.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
The 2024 release calendar features new installments of Planet of the Apes, Bad Boys, Inside Out, and A Quiet Place, among many others; long-dormant hits such as Twister, Gladiator, and Beetlejuice are all getting sequels, with major talent involved.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2024
Despite the poor showings from marquee basketball schools, the tournament was a hit in homes across the country.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2024
The teen rose to the challenge, flawlessly executing the 2011 hit.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 21 Mar. 2024
Last year, Neugebauer, who has led a series of riveting productions, including Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s current Broadway hit, Appropriate, was invited to direct a play at Lincoln Center.
—Adrienne Miller, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of hit was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing hit
Dictionary Entries Near hit
Cite this Entry
“Hit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hit. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
hit
1 of 2 verb
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
b
: to affect as if by a blow
3
: to arrive with a forceful effect
the storm hit at sundown
4
5
: to fire the charge in the cylinders
hitter
noun
hit
2 of 2 noun1
a
: a blow striking an object aimed at
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
More from Merriam-Webster on hit
Nglish: Translation of hit for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of hit for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hit
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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