noun

HIIT

heet (also spelled out, AYCH-eye-eye-TEE)

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HIIT (noun) means 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. Example: “Her HIIT session was twenty minutes of sprint-and-walk intervals on the treadmill.”

noun

fitness 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.

"Her HIIT session was twenty minutes of sprint-and-walk intervals on the treadmill."

"The gym runs a HIIT class at seven every morning."

How to use HIIT

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA workout made of short, very hard bursts with rests in between.

When to use it

Everyday fitness vocabulary, common in gym timetables, apps and exercise research. Written in capitals; often said as a single word rhyming with 'heat'.

Memory tip

'HIIT training' is technically redundant, since the final T already stands for training, but the phrase is very widely used.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

LISS → circuit training Tabata CrossFit →

Common pairings

HIIT workout HIIT class HIIT session do HIIT HIIT training

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “HIIT” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Her _____ session was twenty minutes of sprint-and-walk intervals on the treadmill.

Etymology

An initialism of high-intensity interval training.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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high-intensity interval training interval training burst training

Antonyms

steady-state cardio LISS

Related words

happiness consolation liss

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.

What is the meaning of HIIT?

"HIIT" (noun) means 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.

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