hit
hiht
Hit (verb) means to strike someone or something, often forcefully. Example: “The ball hit the window and shattered it.”
verb
1
To strike someone or something, often forcefully.
"The ball hit the window and shattered it."
"He hit the brakes just in time to avoid the dog."
"The toddler hit the drum with a wooden spoon and laughed."
2
To reach or achieve a target, level, or milestone.
"Sales hit a record high this quarter."
"She hit her savings goal a month early."
"The temperature hit thirty degrees by lunchtime, so we stayed indoors."
3
To affect someone or something negatively or suddenly.
"The news hit her hard."
"The recession hit small businesses especially hard."
"A sudden power cut hit the whole town just as dinner was being served."
noun
1
Something very popular or successful, such as a song or movie.
"The band's new single is already a hit on the radio."
"Their first album was a huge hit with teenagers across the country."
"The school play turned out to be a hit with parents."
2
A blow, strike, or instance of hitting.
"The boxer landed a solid hit in the third round."
"The car took a hit from behind at the traffic lights."
"One hit from the bat sent the ball over the fence."
How to use hit
Learner’s notes
Common pairings
hit a target
hit record
chart-topping hit
hit hard
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Word forms
- Plural
- hits
- Third person singular
- hits
- Past tense
- hat, het, hitten
- Adjective
- hits
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The ball _____ the window and shattered it.
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."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for hit
See all rhymes for 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.
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