HIIT
3 synonyms and 2 antonyms for HIIT, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A style of exercise in which short bursts of very hard effort are alternated with short periods of rest or easy movement, repeated several times in one session.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use HIIT
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Everyday fitness vocabulary, common in gym timetables, apps and exercise research. Written in capitals; often said as a single word rhyming with 'heat'.
Etymology
An initialism of high-intensity interval training.
Full origin of HIIT →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between HIIT and ordinary cardio?
Ordinary, or steady-state, cardio holds one moderate effort level for the whole session, such as a half-hour jog at a constant pace. HIIT instead alternates very hard efforts with recovery periods, so the intensity rises and falls repeatedly. The two differ in structure, not in the equipment used.
How long is a HIIT session?
Sessions are usually short compared with steady-state training, often between ten and thirty minutes including the intervals and the rests. The length depends on how many rounds are done and how long each work and rest period lasts. There is no single fixed duration that defines the term.
Does HIIT have to involve running?
No. The term describes the interval structure rather than any one activity, so cycling, rowing, swimming, skipping and bodyweight circuits can all be organised as HIIT. What makes it HIIT is the alternation of hard effort and recovery.