hit
hit — verb
1. to deliberately bring your fist, a tool, or another object against someone or so
to deliberately bring your fist, a tool, or another object against someone or something, usually with force
Felix hit the ball with a bat and it flew over the fence.
hit + object + with + instrument
Min hit the nail hard with a hammer until it went into the wood.
The elderly man hit his walking stick against the ground to get everyone's attention.
Aylin was so frustrated that she hit the table with her fist.
hit + [body part] + with + [object]
- hit hard
- hit with a hammer
- hit with a fist
- hit against
Grammar Patterns
hit + noun phrase
Usage Note
Irregular forms: hit — hit — hit (same in all three parts). Frequently used with the preposition 'with' to name the object used for striking.
Common Mistakes
2. to strike against someone or something unexpectedly, often resulting in harm or
to strike against someone or something unexpectedly, often resulting in harm or damage
The car hit a tree on the icy road and the front was badly damaged.
vehicle + hit + object, causing damage
Trang slipped on the wet floor and hit her head on the desk corner.
A large piece of ice hit the ship's side during the storm at sea.
The cyclist hit a stone in the road and lost control of the bike.
accidental collision with an object in the path
- hit a car
- hit a tree
- hit the ground
- hit your head
- hit against
- hit into
- bump into
less forceful, often of people colliding accidentally
- crash into
implies greater force and more serious damage
- strike
more formal; used in news or official reports
Grammar Patterns
hit + noun phrase
hit + against/into + noun phrase
Usage Note
Can be used both transitively ('The ball hit the window') and intransitively with a preposition ('The ball hit against the window'). Sense 2 differs from sense 1 (STRIKE) in that it describes accidental collision or impact, not an intentional striking motion.
Common Mistakes
3. to cause harm, difficulty, or suffering to someone or something
to cause harm, difficulty, or suffering to someone or something
The factory closing hit the local town hard, and many families lost their income.
[event] + hit + [place/person] + hard (adverb)
Gabriela's business was hit by the sudden rise in material costs.
passive: be hit by + [cause]
The disease has hit older people the hardest across the country.
A series of storms hit the coastal region just before the harvest season began.
- hit hard
- hit badly
- hit by a crisis
- hit by a storm
- hit by an economic downturn
- benefit
positive effect on someone or something
Grammar Patterns
hit + noun phrase
be hit by + noun phrase
Usage Note
Frequently used in the passive voice ('be hit by') and with intensifying adverbs such as 'hard', 'badly', 'the hardest'. The subject is typically an event or force, not a person — e.g. a crisis, disaster, or economic change.
4. if a sudden idea or realization hits you, it comes into your mind unexpectedly a
if a sudden idea or realization hits you, it comes into your mind unexpectedly and with force
It suddenly hit Mark that he had left his passport on the kitchen table.
it + hit + [person] + that-clause (realization)
The idea hit Lauren in the shower — she finally knew what to do.
As the teacher asked again, it hit Christopher that he had made a simple mistake.
it hits + [person] + that... (sudden realization)
It hit Sahil that the person next to him was the singer he admired for years.
- it hits someone
- it suddenly hits someone
- the thought hits someone
Grammar Patterns
it hits + person + that-clause
Usage Note
The subject is almost always 'it' or an abstract noun like 'the idea' or 'the thought'. The person experiencing the realization is the object ('it hit me'). Never used in the passive voice for this sense.
Common Mistakes
5. to strike a person or place using bullets, bombs, or other weapons during a conf
to strike a person or place using bullets, bombs, or other weapons during a conflict
Enemy forces hit the city with rockets several times during the night.
military: hit + [place] + with + [weapon]
The hospital was hit by a bomb and several rooms were destroyed.
passive: be hit by + [explosive]
Fighters hit the military base just before sunrise, catching the soldiers by surprise.
The car was hit by gunfire from the street above and had to stop.
- hit a target
- hit by a bomb
- hit by gunfire
- hit with missiles
- hit a military base
Grammar Patterns
hit + noun phrase
be hit by + noun phrase
Usage Note
Often used in the passive voice ('be hit by'). This sense belongs to military or violent conflict contexts. Distinguish from sense 1 (STRIKE), which involves hand-to-hand or tool-based contact, and from sense 9 (ATTACK in the sibling chunk), which refers specifically to killing rather than attacking a target.
6. to reach a particular place or location during travel
to reach a particular place or location during travel
The driver said we would hit the main highway in about twenty minutes.
hit + [road/route] — informal arrival at a point on a journey
The train hits the station at exactly nine o'clock every morning.
By the time they hit the city centre, all the shops were already closed.
We hit heavy traffic outside London and sat in the car for an hour.
hit + [condition] — informal for encountering something on the way
- hit the road
- hit town
- hit the coast
- hit the border
- hit traffic
- leave
to depart from a place
Grammar Patterns
hit + noun phrase (place or position)
Usage Note
Informal — more common in spoken English than formal writing. The object is typically a physical place (town, road, station) or a point on a path. Distinguish from sibling sense 7 (REACH in chunk verb_b2), which describes achieving goals or targets rather than physically arriving somewhere.
Common Mistakes
7. when a number, amount, or goal arrives at a specific point that was aimed for —
when a number, amount, or goal arrives at a specific point that was aimed for — for instance, sales hitting one million units or temperatures hitting a record high
Sales hit the target of one million units before the end of the year.
hit + target/number collocation
Temperatures in the desert are expected to hit 48 degrees this weekend.
hit + temperature/measurement
The singer's new album hit number one on the charts in twelve countries.
hit + chart position
Tyler felt proud when his basketball team hit fifty wins for the season.
- hit a target
- hit a level
- hit a record high/low
- hit a milestone
- hit a peak
- miss
to fail to reach a target or level
- fall short of
to not quite reach a particular level
Grammar Patterns
hit + number/level/target
Usage Note
Commonly used with numerical values, targets, and milestones. Unlike 'reach', which works for physical destinations, 'hit' emphasises the exact point or number attained and has a slightly more informal tone.
Common Mistakes
8. to immediately like someone and start a good relationship when you first meet —
to immediately like someone and start a good relationship when you first meet — always used in the fixed phrase 'hit it off (with someone)'
Jin and Reema hit it off straight away at the summer internship orientation.
hit it off with [person] — fixed phrase
I was nervous before meeting Camila's parents, but we hit it off over lunch.
hit it off over [activity/meal]
The two guitarists hit it off during the recording session and became close friends.
Charlotte and Élise hit it off at the book club and still meet weekly.
- hit it off with
- hit it off straight away
- hit it off immediately
- rub (someone) the wrong way
to annoy someone from the start, the opposite of getting along
Grammar Patterns
hit it off (with + person)
hit it off + immediately/straight away
Usage Note
Only used in the fixed expression 'hit it off (with someone)'. The pronoun 'it' and the particle 'off' are essential and cannot be removed. The phrase is informal and common in British and American English alike.
Common Mistakes
9. to murder someone deliberately as part of a planned crime, especially a professi
to murder someone deliberately as part of a planned crime, especially a professional killing ordered by a criminal group
The novel begins with a hired killer who is paid to hit a politician.
criminal slang: hit [person] = murder deliberately
In the crime series, the gang plans to hit a witness before the trial starts.
Paloma refused to give evidence because she feared the gang would hit her family.
The detective believed the victim was hit by a rival gang over a territory dispute.
- hit a witness
- hit a rival
- paid to hit [someone]
- murder
the neutral term, suitable in any register
- assassinate
specifically refers to killing a public figure or important person
Grammar Patterns
hit + person (target of murder)
Usage Note
This is criminal slang. In neutral or formal English, use 'murder' or 'kill' instead. The sense is commonly found in crime fiction, news reports about organised crime, and film dialogue.
10. the cricket term for gaining runs by striking the ball and then running between
the cricket term for gaining runs by striking the ball and then running between the wickets
The opening batsman hit 75 runs before being caught at mid-off.
cricket: hit + number of runs
Soraya hit a six over the boundary in the final over of the match.
cricket: hit + shot type (six, boundary)
When a player hits a century, the crowd stands up to show their appreciation.
The captain hit a boundary to win the match in the final over.
- hit a century
- hit a six
- hit a boundary
- hit runs
- score
more general term used across many sports
Grammar Patterns
hit + number of runs
hit + a century/six/boundary
Usage Note
Used primarily in cricket, a sport popular in the UK, Australia, India, and other Commonwealth countries. A 'century' is 100 runs, a 'six' is a shot that clears the boundary on the full.
11. in baseball, to strike the ball with the bat in a way that produces a particular
in baseball, to strike the ball with the bat in a way that produces a particular type of play, such as a home run, a double, or a single
The batter hit a home run that landed in the upper deck of the stadium.
baseball: hit a home run / hit a double / hit a single
With two runners on base, Ziad hit a double that brought them both home.
Gabriel hit a single in the ninth inning and then stole second base.
Sari hit a line drive that went past the shortstop into the outfield.
- hit a home run
- hit a double
- hit a single
- hit a line drive
- bat
the verb meaning to take one's turn as the batter
Grammar Patterns
hit + a home run/double/single
hit + the ball + direction
Usage Note
Baseball-specific terminology. A 'home run' is a hit that allows the batter to run around all four bases, a 'double' lets them reach second base, and a 'single' lets them reach first base.
12. in baseball, to achieve a specific batting average over a season or career — a s
in baseball, to achieve a specific batting average over a season or career — a statistic that measures a player's hitting success rate by dividing their hits by their official at-bats
The star player hit .330 for the season and won the batting title.
baseball: hit + batting average (decimal number)
Dahlia hit .275 in her rookie year and was named to the All-Star team.
Hitting .300 over a full season means a batter is performing at an excellent level.
Over ten seasons the second baseman hit .290 and helped his team reach the playoffs.
- hit .300
- hit .250
- hit for average
Grammar Patterns
hit + decimal batting average
Usage Note
Batting averages are written as three-digit decimals (e.g. .300). A .300 average means the player gets a hit in 30% of their official at-bats, which is considered very good in professional baseball.
hit back
phrasal verbTo respond forcefully to an attack or criticism.
The politician hit back at his critics during the debate.
After the insult, she hit back with a sharp remark.
hit for
phrasal verbTo ask someone for something, usually money.
He hit me for twenty dollars to buy lunch.
My brother hit me for a loan to pay his rent.
hit on
phrasal verbTo flirt with or make romantic advances toward someone.
A stranger hit on her at the coffee shop.
He was hitting on the bartender all night.
hit out
phrasal verbTo attack someone physically or with words.
The boxer hit out at his opponent in the third round.
She hit out at the unfair criticism in her speech.
hit up
phrasal verbTo contact someone, often to ask for something.
I'll hit you up when I arrive in town.
He hit up his friend for a ride to the airport.
hit up for
phrasal verbTo ask someone for something, especially money.
She hit me up for fifty dollars to buy a dress.
The charity hit up donors for more contributions.
hit upon
phrasal verbTo suddenly think of a good idea or solution.
The team hit upon a brilliant marketing strategy.
I hit upon the answer while taking a shower.
hit with
phrasal verbTo surprise someone with something, often bad news or a request.
The boss hit us with a new deadline this morning.
She hit me with the news that she was moving away.
To become an important news story in newspapers or on television.
The celebrity wedding grabbed the headlines all week.
Did the local election make the headlines yesterday?
hit (it) big
idiomTo become very successful, especially in business or entertainment.
Maya's small bakery hit big after a TV appearance.
The band hit it big with their first album.
hit the buffers
idiomIf a plan or career hits the buffers, it suddenly stops being successful.
His political ambitions hit the buffers after the scandal.
The project hit the buffers when funding was cut.
hit the deck
idiomTo fall or drop to the ground quickly, often to avoid danger.
When the firecracker exploded, everyone hit the deck.
The soldier shouted, "Hit the deck!" as the helicopter flew low.
To shock or upset someone very deeply.
The news of her father's illness knocked her for six.
Losing the championship match hit the team for six.
To start a new activity quickly and successfully without delay.
The new manager hit the ground running and improved sales.
Sara hit the ground running on her first day at the company.
hit the hay/sack
idiomTo go to bed to sleep.
I'm exhausted, so I'm going to hit the hay early.
After the long hike, Diego hit the sack at nine.
hit/strike home
idiomIf a remark hits home, it has a strong emotional effect and makes someone understand the truth.
The teacher's comment about laziness struck home with Min.
Her words hit home when he realized his mistake.
To be very obvious or noticeable to someone.
The error in the report hit me right in the eye.
The beauty of the painting hit her straight in the eye.
hit it
idiomUsed to tell someone to start doing something, especially playing music.
The conductor said, "Hit it!" and the orchestra began.
"Hit it, band!" shouted the director.
To have a good, friendly relationship with someone from the start.
Maya and Sara hit it off immediately at the party.
Did you hit it off with your new roommate?
hit the jackpot
idiomTo win or earn a large amount of money unexpectedly.
Brian hit the jackpot with his lottery ticket.
The startup hit the jackpot when a big company bought it.
hit/miss the mark
idiomTo succeed or fail in achieving or guessing something correctly.
His joke hit the mark and everyone laughed.
The movie missed the mark because the plot was confusing.
To say something that is exactly right or correct.
Aiden hit the nail on the head when he identified the problem.
Your analysis hit the nail on the head.
To mention a subject that makes someone feel angry, upset, or embarrassed.
His comment about her weight touched a raw nerve.
The article struck a sensitive nerve with many readers.
hit/strike pay dirt
idiomTo suddenly become very successful, especially in making money.
The inventor hit pay dirt with his new app.
After years of struggle, the band struck pay dirt with their third album.
To do or say something that is suitable or unsuitable for a particular situation.
The comedian's joke struck the wrong note with the audience.
Her speech hit the right note at the graduation ceremony.
hit the road/trail
idiomTo begin a journey or leave a place.
We hit the road at dawn to avoid traffic.
After breakfast, the hikers hit the trail.
hit the roof
idiomTo become very angry suddenly.
Dad hit the roof when he saw the broken window.
The boss hit the roof after the project failed.
hit the spot
idiomIf something hits the spot, it is exactly what is needed or wanted.
A cold glass of water hit the spot after the run.
Her joke hit the spot and lightened the mood.
hit (your) stride
idiomTo begin to do something confidently and well after a slow start.
After a shaky beginning, the speaker hit his stride.
The team hit their stride in the second half of the game.
hit a/the wall
idiomTo reach a point where you cannot continue or make progress.
The runner hit the wall at mile twenty and had to stop.
I've hit a wall with my research and need a new approach.
To continue to attack or hurt someone who is already in a weak position.
Criticizing him after his failure is hitting him when he's down.
She refused to hit her opponent when he was down.
To affect someone in the area where they are most vulnerable or sensitive.
The tax increase hit small business owners where it hurts.
His criticism hit her where it hurts — her pride.
In soccer, to hit the goal frame instead of scoring a goal.
The striker hit the woodwork twice in the first half.
Her shot struck the woodwork and bounced away.
To be so surprised by something that you do not know how to react.
When the offer came, he didn't know what hit him.
She was so shocked by the news that she didn't know what hit her.
When someone in authority discovers a bad or wrong action that has been done.
When the shit hits the fan, the manager will demand answers.
He wants to leave before the shit hits the fan.
hit — noun
1. something such as a film, song, or performer that a very large number of people
something such as a film, song, or performer that a very large number of people enjoy and regard as excellent
The singer's new song became a huge hit across Europe and Asia within weeks.
collocation: huge hit
Yuna's first novel was such a hit that the publisher ordered a second printing.
pattern: such a hit that...
That video game was a surprise hit among both children and adults.
collocation: surprise hit
Élise's new ice cream flavour became an instant hit with local customers.
collocation: instant hit
The action film was a massive hit in theatres across Latin America last summer.
collocation: massive hit
- huge hit
- big hit
- surprise hit
- overnight hit
- hit song
- hit show
- hit movie
- hit with
- hit among
- success
more general — a hit is always a success, but a success may not be a widely loved hit
- blockbuster
more informal, used for very big entertainment successes, especially films
- bestseller
used specifically for books or products that sell in very large numbers
- flop
a complete failure, the opposite of a hit in entertainment or business
Grammar Patterns
hit + among [group]
hit + with [audience]
Usage Note
Commonly describes entertainment or media products such as films, songs, books, or games. Often followed by 'with' or 'among' to name the audience that likes it.
Common Mistakes
2. a single instance of a computer requesting a page or file from a website, counte
a single instance of a computer requesting a page or file from a website, counted to measure how many people visit that site
The company's blog received over ten thousand hits in its first week online.
collocation: receive + hits
Website hits increased sharply after the advertisement appeared on television.
Marta checks daily hits on her cooking blog to see which recipes readers like most.
collocation: daily hits
Lakshmi's travel blog gets about two thousand hits every day from readers worldwide.
collocation: get hits
The news website recorded a record number of hits during the election coverage.
- receive hits
- get hits
- generate hits
- page hits
- website hits
- daily hits
- thousands of hits
Grammar Patterns
receive + hits
get + hits
number + hits
Usage Note
Countable noun used mainly in web analytics. Often paired with numbers or quantifiers such as 'thousands of', 'millions of'. Not the same as 'unique visitors' — one person can generate multiple hits.
Common Mistakes
3. the action of one thing striking another, or an instance where a moving object m
the action of one thing striking another, or an instance where a moving object makes forceful contact with a person or thing
A hard hit from a falling branch left a deep mark on Tunde's car roof.
The boxer took a hard hit to the jaw but stayed on his feet.
collocation: take a hit
Indra felt a sharp hit on her shoulder when someone pushed past on the bus.
collocation: feel a hit
Dahlia received a painful hit on the arm from a tennis ball during practice.
The car roof had several hits from hail that fell during the storm.
collocation: hits from [something]
- take a hit
- feel a hit
- hard hit
- direct hit
- hit to the
- hit on the
Grammar Patterns
hit + to [body part]
take + a + hit
hit + on [surface]
Usage Note
Frequently used with body parts ('hit to the head', 'hit on the arm') or surfaces ('hit on the car door'). The phrase 'take a hit' can also be used figuratively outside this sense — see EFFECT verb sense.
4. in baseball, a successful swing of the bat that allows the batter to run safely
in baseball, a successful swing of the bat that allows the batter to run safely to at least first base
Maeve's hit sent the ball into the gap between the two outfield players.
The batter needed just one more hit to reach a career total of two thousand.
collocation: one more hit
Yael scored the winning run after a well-timed hit down the third-base line.
collocation: well-timed hit
Inês's clean single in the ninth inning was her third hit of the game.
Daniel's two hits helped his team win the championship final last weekend.
collocation: two hits
- get a hit
- single hit
- base hit
- well-timed hit
- hit batter
- career hits
- strikeout
when the batter fails to hit the ball and is out
Grammar Patterns
get + a + hit
hit + number + hits
Usage Note
Only used in baseball contexts. A 'single' is a hit that reaches first base only; a 'double', 'triple', or 'home run' are also types of hits. Not used in other bat-and-ball sports such as cricket.
Common Mistakes
5. a moment when a thrown, fired, or dropped object lands exactly on the target it
a moment when a thrown, fired, or dropped object lands exactly on the target it was aimed at
The archer smiled when her arrow made a direct hit on the target centre.
collocation: direct hit
Ramón's clean throw was a hit that knocked down every bottle at the fair.
collocation: clean hit
The bomb scored a direct hit on the enemy's fuel storage building during the raid.
Each player gets three throws, and a clean hit wins a prize at the fair.
The soldier's missile scored a direct hit on the advancing tank column.
collocation: score a direct hit
- direct hit
- clean hit
- score a hit
- make a hit
- first hit
- direct hit
emphasises that the target was struck exactly, often used for bombs or missiles
- strike
used in bowling and military contexts, similar meaning but slightly more formal
- miss
when the thrown or fired object fails to reach the target
Grammar Patterns
make + a + hit
score + a + hit
direct + hit
Usage Note
Common with 'direct hit' to emphasise that the target was struck exactly. Used in military, sports (archery, darts), and informal games contexts.
6. a killing arranged in advance and done by a hired criminal, usually for payment
a killing arranged in advance and done by a hired criminal, usually for payment from a third party
The detective suspected the crime was a professional hit ordered by a rival gang.
collocation: professional hit
The trial revealed details of a planned hit stopped just hours before it could happen.
Cyrus was arrested for helping to arrange a hit on a former business partner.
pattern: arrange a hit on [person]
The police believe the shooting was a contract hit arranged by a crime boss.
collocation: contract hit
Organised crime groups sometimes use outsiders to carry out hits for them.
collocation: carry out a hit
- professional hit
- carry out a hit
- order a hit
- arrange a hit
- hit on
- planned hit
- contract hit
- assassination
usually of a political or public figure, more formal, not necessarily for payment
- contract killing
more explicit about the payment arrangement; less informal in tone
Grammar Patterns
carry out + a + hit
order + a + hit
professional + hit
Usage Note
Informal slang from organised crime contexts. More specific than 'murder' — implies payment and planning by a third party. Common in crime fiction, news reports about gang violence, and legal contexts.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- hitternounB2
- hitlessadjectiveC1
- hit-and-runadjectiveB2
- hit listnounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
Hit, strike, beat, knock, and slap all describe making forceful contact, but they differ in purpose and sound. Hit is the most neutral and common word — you can hit a ball, a person, or a nail with equal naturalness. Strike is more formal and often used in news or legal writing ('the car struck a pedestrian'), but also in sports ('strike the ball cleanly'). Beat means to hit repeatedly and often with intensity ('beat a drum', 'beat the eggs'), while knock describes a light, usually deliberate tap, especially with a closed hand or knuckles ('knock on a door'). Slap is a flat-handed strike, usually open-palm, and implies a sharp sound or an insult. If you hit a table with your fist, it is banging; if you slap the table, it is open-handed. Use 'hit' for general purpose, 'strike' for formal contexts, 'beat' for repeated action, 'knock' for gentle tapping, and 'slap' specifically for open-palm contact.
Common collocations
Phrases
- hit someone hard
- hit it off with
- take a hit
- direct hit
- hit the road
- hit the sack
- hit the nail on the head
- hit or miss
Etymology
Hit comes from Old English 'hittan', which meant 'to come upon, find, or meet with' — not yet about striking. It was borrowed from Old Norse 'hitta', which had the meaning 'to reach, to meet'. Over time, the sense shifted from accidentally finding something to deliberately striking it, and later to a wide range of figurative uses (reaching a target, affecting someone badly, a sudden idea).