hit
44 ENTRIES FOUND:
- hit (verb)
- hit (noun)
- hit–and–miss (adjective)
- hit–and–run (adjective)
- hit–and–run (noun)
- hit–or–miss (adjective)
- hit list (noun)
- hit man (noun)
- base hit (noun)
- extra–base hit (noun)
- hard–hitting (adjective)
- no–hit (adjective)
- one–hit wonder (noun)
- pinch–hit (verb)
- big (adverb)
- book (noun)
- buffer (noun)
- ceiling (noun)
- deck (noun)
- dirt (noun)
- fan (noun)
- ground (noun)
- hay (noun)
- head (noun)
- home (adverb)
- jackpot (noun)
- know (verb)
- nail (noun)
- nerve (noun)
- panic button (noun)
- pavement (noun)
- pay dirt (noun)
- road (noun)
- roof (noun)
- shit (noun)
- six (noun)
- skid (noun)
- spot (noun)
- street (noun)
- stride (noun)
- switch–hitter (noun)
- town (noun)
- trail (noun)
- wall (noun)
hits;
hit;
hitting
hits;
hit;
hitting
Britannica Dictionary definition of HIT
1
a
:
to move your hand, a bat, etc., quickly so that it touches someone or something in a forceful or violent way
[+ object]
-
She told her son to stop hitting his sister.
-
She hit him hard with her purse.
-
He hit the fence with a stick. = He hit a stick against/on the fence.
-
The boxers hit each other with their fists.
[no object]
-
The boxers were hitting furiously at each other.
b
[+ object]
:
to cause (something, such as a ball) to move by hitting it forcefully with a bat, racket, etc.
-
He hit a fastball (over the fence) for a home run.
-
She hit the ball right to the shortstop.
c
:
to touch (something or someone) in a forceful or violent way after moving at a high speed
[+ object]
-
The ball hit the house.
-
The plate shattered when it hit the floor.
-
The tank was hit by enemy fire.
-
He was hit by a car.
-
The ship hit an iceberg.
[no object]
-
The plate shattered when it hit.
d
[+ object]
:
to cause or allow (something, such as part of your body) to touch something in a forceful or violent way
-
I accidentally hit my head on/against the side of the door while I was getting into the car.
-
She hit her elbow on the edge of the table.
2
a
[+ object]
:
to attack (something or someone)
-
Our plan is to hit the enemy before they can hit us.
b
:
to affect (something or someone) in a harmful or damaging way
[+ object]
-
The ship was hit by a sudden storm.
-
A powerful earthquake hit the city.
-
Many families have been hit hard by the layoffs. = Many families have been hard hit by the layoffs. [=many families have been badly affected/hurt by the layoffs]
-
If you really want to teach your son a lesson you should hit him where it hurts and take away his cell phone.
[no object]
-
Many people were unprepared when the storm hit.
-
The layoffs have hit hard here.
3
[+ object]
a
:
to come to (something) by chance or accident while you are moving
-
We hit a west wind coming out of port.
-
I was late because I hit a traffic jam on the way over.
b
:
to begin to have or experience (problems, trouble, etc.)
-
The project went smoothly at first, but then we started to hit [=encounter] some problems.
4
[+ object]
informal
:
to become suddenly or completely clear to (someone)
:
strike
-
It suddenly hit [=occurred to] me that I was doing something wrong. [=I suddenly realized that I was doing something wrong]
-
The importance of the victory hasn't really hit her yet.
-
I was just about to give up when the solution hit me.
-
When you meet him, the first thing that hits you [=the first thing that you notice] is his air of confidence.
-
The smell hit me [=I noticed the smell] as soon as I opened the door.
5
[+ object]
:
to get or come to (a goal, level, etc.)
:
reach
-
He hit 100 mph on his motorcycle.
-
They expect the temperature to hit 90 this afternoon.
-
Sales hit $100 million last year alone.
-
Gold prices hit an all-time high last week.
-
a singer who can hit the high notes
-
He kept digging until he hit [=struck] water.
-
The stock market hit bottom. [=reached an extremely low point]
-
(informal) Next year he'll hit the big four-oh/five-oh. [=turn 40/50 years of age]
6
[+ object]
informal
:
to arrive or appear at, in, or on (a place)
-
We hit [=went to] the beach nearly every day this summer.
-
They got up early and headed out to hit the (ski) slopes. [=to go skiing]
-
The magazine's new issue hits newsstands tomorrow. [=the new issue becomes available on newsstands tomorrow]
-
The new product should hit the shelves/market soon. = The new product should hit stores soon. [=the new product should be available in stores soon]
-
These new illegal drugs only recently hit the street. [=became available for illegal purchase]
7
[+ object]
informal
a
:
to turn (something) on or off with a switch
-
Could someone please hit the lights?
b
:
to move (a switch) to an on or off position
-
The lights came on when she hit the switch.
c
:
to push down on (the brake pedal or accelerator in a vehicle) in a sudden and forceful way
-
I had to hit the brakes hard to avoid an accident.
-
She suddenly hit the accelerator and sped away. = (US) She suddenly hit the gas and sped away.
8
a
:
to succeed in hitting (something aimed at) with a shot, throw, etc.
— sometimes used figuratively
[+ object]
-
hit the bull's-eye
-
hit the target
-
Her criticism really hit the mark. [=her criticism was very accurate]
[no object]
-
The first shot hit but the second shot missed.
b
[+ object]
:
to succeed in making (a shot)
-
She hit [=made, sank] 40 percent of her shots last season.
-
She hit her first basket but then missed the next one.
c
[+ object]
:
to succeed in making a pass to (another player)
-
The quarterback hit the wide receiver (with a pass) for a touchdown.
9
a
[no object]
:
to try to hit the ball with a bat in baseball, cricket, or a similar game
-
It's your turn to hit. [=bat]
b
[+ object]
:
to produce (a home run, a ground ball, etc.) by batting
-
He hit 30 home runs last year.
-
He hit a ground ball to the shortstop.
-
She hit a double to left field.
c
[no object]
:
to have a specified batting average
-
This year he's hitting [=batting] .300. [=his batting average is .300]
d
:
to hit the pitches thrown by (a pitcher)
[+ object]
-
He has hit this pitcher well/poorly in the past.
[no object]
-
He has hit well/poorly against this pitcher in the past.
10
not used in progressive tenses,
[+ object]
informal
:
to deal another card to (a player in blackjack)
-
Hit me. [=deal another card to me]
hit a nerve
hit a/the wall
hit back
[phrasal verb]
:
to attack or criticize someone who has attacked or criticized you
— often + at
-
If you hit me, I'll hit back.
-
The team hit back with a touchdown of their own.
-
The Senator hit back at his critics.
hit home
hit it
informal
— used to tell a group of musicians to begin playing
-
Hit it, boys! [=let's begin playing music]
hit it big
or hit bighit it off
informal
:
to become friends
:
to get along well
-
The two of them hit it off (with each other) immediately.
-
Though we work together, we've never really hit it off.
hit on/upon
[phrasal verb]
1
hit on (someone)
US, informal
:
to talk to (someone) in order to try to start a sexual relationship
-
She's always being/getting hit on at the gym.
-
Some drunk at the bar was hitting on her.
2
hit on/upon (something)
:
to succeed in finding (something, such as a solution)
-
She thought about the problem for days before she finally hit on a solution.
-
He hit on a new way to do things.
-
We hit upon the answer accidentally.
hit out at
[phrasal verb]
hit out at (someone)
informal
:
to make an angry attack against (someone)
-
The singer hit out at [=(more commonly) lashed out at] her critics.
hit someone for six
hit the books
hit the buffers
hit the deck
or hit the dirt or hit the ground
:
to drop down to the ground or floor suddenly
-
She hit the deck when the gunfire started.
hit the fan
hit the ground running
:
to begin an effort or activity in a quick, energetic, and effective way
-
The new administration hit the ground running after the inauguration.
hit the hay
informal or hit the sack
:
to go to bed
-
I'm tired. I'm going to hit the hay.
hit the jackpot
hit the nail on the head
informal
:
to be exactly right
-
He hit the nail on the head with that analysis.
hit the panic button
hit the road
hit the roof
informal or hit the ceiling
:
to become very angry or upset
-
His parents really hit the roof when they found out he had flunked out of school.
hit the skids
hit the spot
hit the streets
informal or US hit the pavement
:
to go out in search of something or for a specific purpose
—
see also 1hit 6 (above)
-
I grabbed the classifieds and hit the pavement, looking for a new job.
-
The reporters hit the streets to interview passersby.
hit the town
hit the trail
hit up
[phrasal verb]
hit (someone) up
or
hit up (someone)
US, informal
:
to ask (someone) for something (such as money)
-
She's waiting for the right moment to hit up her father for a loan. [=to ask her father for a loan]
-
I donated money to that charity a few months ago, and they're already hitting me up for more.
hit your stride
know what hit you
2
hit
/ˈhɪt/
noun
plural
hits
2
hit
/ˈhɪt/
noun
plural
hits
Britannica Dictionary definition of HIT
[count]
1
a
:
an act of hitting someone or something
-
The player was penalized for an illegal hit from behind.
-
The torpedo made a direct hit.
b
— used to describe being hit by something (such as a bullet, bomb, punch, etc.)
— usually used with take
— often used figuratively
-
The bunker took a direct hit from the bombers.
-
The plane took some hits, but the pilot was able to fly back to the base.
-
His pride took a hit. [=his pride was hurt]
-
The company took a public relations hit when it lost the lawsuit. [=the company's public image was damaged when it lost the lawsuit]
-
She took a big financial hit when the stock market fell. [=she lost a lot of money]
2
a
:
something that is very successful
— often used before another noun
—
see also one-hit wonder
-
The show was a (smash/big) hit.
-
The album is a collection of the group's greatest hits. [=the group's most popular and successful songs]
-
a hit record/song
-
a hit movie
b
:
someone or something that is liked by someone very much
— usually + with
-
The pony ride was/made a big hit at the party.
-
The pony ride was a big hit with the kids at the party. [=the kids at the party enjoyed the pony ride very much]
3
:
a successful effort to reach a desired goal or result
-
His business ventures have been a mixture of hits and misses. [=some of his business ventures have been successful and some have failed]
4
5
computers
a
:
an act of connecting to a particular Web site
-
The site had/got over a million hits last month. [=people connected to the site more than a million times last month]
b
:
a successful attempt to find something in a search of a computer database or the Internet
-
A search for his name in the newspaper's database produced/found more than 30 hits.
6
informal
:
a single dose of an illegal drug
-
Can I get a hit?
-
He took a hit of LSD.
7
informal
:
a planned murder done by a paid killer
—
see also hit man
-
an attempted hit on the gang's leader
-
a hitless musical group [=a musical group that has not had any hit songs]
-
She has gone/been hitless [=has not had any base hits] in her last three games.
-
He pitched six hitless innings. [=six innings in which no batter got a base hit]
