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

To hit something hard and sharply.

"He whacked the vending machine when it ate his coins."

"She whacked the ball clean over the fence."

Slang: to kill someone, especially in criminal or mob contexts.

"In the film, the informant gets whacked before he can testify."

noun

A hard, sharp blow or the sound it makes.

"The bat connected with a satisfying whack."

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 notes

In 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

wack →

Common pairings

whack someone out of whack take a whack at

Word forms

whacked past tense, whacks plural, whacks singular

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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."

Synonyms

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belt knock rap wham wallop whop whang

Related words

hit impact throw zone strike pink strip belt

Rhymes for whack

ACK jack hack back tack wack pack sack rack lack Mack Zack

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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