hit
4 antonyms and opposites of hit, grouped by meaning.
Verb — To strike someone or something, often forcefully.
Antonyms
How to use hit
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English hittan ("to meet with, come upon"), borrowed from Old Norse hitta ("to strike, meet"), tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to fall upon" or "to strike."
Full origin of hit →Frequently asked questions
What does “hit” mean?
The word “hit” means to strike someone or something, often forcefully.
How do you pronounce “hit”?
“Hit” is pronounced hiht (/hɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “hit” in a sentence?
Here is “hit” used in a sentence: “The ball hit the window and shattered it.”
What is another word for “hit”?
Words with a similar meaning to “hit” include pelt, thump, whack, do away with, fall upon and lay into.
What is the opposite of “hit”?
The opposite of “hit” — its antonyms — are miss, block, flop and turkey.
What part of speech is “hit”?
Depending on how it is used, “hit” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “hit” come from?
The word “hit” comes from Old English. From Old English hittan ("to meet with, come upon"), borrowed from Old Norse hitta ("to strike, meet"), tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to fall upon" or "to strike.".
Is “hit” a common word?
“Hit” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between hit and strike?
The two are close synonyms, both meaning to make forceful contact with someone or something. 'Strike' sounds slightly more formal or deliberate and is common in writing, while 'hit' is the everyday word in speech. 'Strike' can also imply aiming a blow, whereas 'hit' may be accidental, as in hitting your head.
What is the past tense of 'hit'?
'Hit' is an irregular verb whose form does not change: the past tense and past participle are both simply 'hit.' So you say 'she hits the ball' today, 'she hit the ball' yesterday, and 'she has hit the ball' already. Only the surrounding words show the change in time.
Does 'hit' always mean physical violence?
No. Its core meaning is to strike something, often forcefully, but 'hit' has many figurative uses that involve no violence at all. You can hit a target, hit the brakes, hit a high note, or hit it off with someone. Context makes clear whether real physical contact is meant.
What is an example of 'hit' in a sentence?
You might say 'He hit the nail with a hammer' or 'The car hit the fence,' both showing forceful contact. Figuratively, 'The news hit her hard' shows emotional impact rather than a physical blow. The word works for deliberate blows, accidents, and figurative effects alike.