verb
Uncommon
whack
WAK
Whack (verb) means to hit something hard and sharply. Example: “He whacked the vending machine when it ate his coins.”
verb
1
To hit something hard and sharply.
"He whacked the vending machine when it ate his coins."
"She whacked the ball clean over the fence."
2
Slang: to kill someone, especially in criminal or mob contexts.
"In the film, the informant gets whacked before he can testify."
noun
1
A hard, sharp blow or the sound it makes.
"The bat connected with a satisfying whack."
2
Informal: a share or portion of something, especially money.
"Everyone in the crew got their whack once the job was done."
How to use whack
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo hit hard, or the hit itself; slang for a share of money or (criminal slang) to kill.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "wack," slang for something bad or lame — they're pronounced the same but mean different things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
whack someone
out of whack
take a whack at
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Word forms
- Plural
- whacks
- Third person singular
- whacks
- Past tense
- whacked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ the vending machine when it ate his coins.
Etymology
Origin uncertain, likely Scottish and probably imitative of the sound of a sharp blow — the source of the related word "thwack."
Related words
Rhymes for whack
See all rhymes for whack →Frequently asked questions
What does “whack” mean?
The word “whack” means to hit something hard and sharply. In plain terms, to hit hard, or the hit itself; slang for a share of money or (criminal slang) to kill.
How do you pronounce “whack”?
“Whack” is pronounced WAK (/ˈwæk/ in IPA).
How do you use “whack” in a sentence?
Here is “whack” used in a sentence: “He whacked the vending machine when it ate his coins.”
What part of speech is “whack”?
Depending on how it is used, “whack” can be a verb and a noun.
Is “whack” a common word?
“Whack” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “whack” have?
“Whack” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to hit something hard and sharply.
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