First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1hit
verb \ˈhit\
: to move your hand, a bat, etc., quickly so that it touches someone or something in a forceful or violent way
: to cause (something, such as a ball) to move by hitting it forcefully with a bat, racket, etc.
: to touch (something or someone) in a forceful or violent way after moving at a high speed
hithit·ting
Full Definition of HIT
transitive verb
1
a : to reach with or as if with a blow b : to come in contact with <the ball hit the window> c : to strike (as a ball) with an object (as a bat, club, or racket) so as to impart or redirect motion
2
a : to cause to come into contact b : to deliver (as a blow) by action c : to apply forcefully or suddenly <hit the brakes>
3
: to affect especially detrimentally <farmers hit by drought>
4
: to make a request of <hit his friend for 10 dollars> —often used with up
5
: to discover or meet especially by chance
6
a : to accord with : suit b : reach, attain <prices hit a new high> c : to arrive or appear at, in, or on <hit town> <the best time to hit the stores> d of fish : to bite at or on e : to reflect accurately <hit the right note> f : to reach or strike (as a target) especially for a score in a game or contest <couldn't seem to hit the basket> g : bat 2b
7
: to indulge in excessively <hit the bottle>
8
: to deal another card to (as in blackjack)
intransitive verb
1
a : to strike a blow b : to arrive with a forceful effect like that of a blow <the storm hit>
3
: to succeed in attaining or coming up with something —often used with on or upon <hit on a solution>
4
obsolete : to be in agreement : suit
5
of an internal combustion engine : to fire the charge in the cylinders
— hit·ter noun
— hit it big
: to achieve great success
— hit it off
: to get along well : become friends <they hit it off immediately>
— hit on
: to make especially sexual overtures to
— hit the books
: to study especially with intensity
— hit the fan
: to have a major usually undesirable impact
— hit the ground running
: to begin or proceed quickly, energetically, or effectively
— hit the hay or hit the sack
: to go to bed
— hit the high points or hit the high spots
: to touch on or at the most important points or places
— hit the jackpot
: to become notably and unexpectedly successful
— hit the nail on the head
: to be exactly right
— hit the roof or hit the ceiling
: to give vent to a burst of anger or angry protest
— hit the spot
: to give complete or special satisfaction —used especially of food or drink
— hit the wall
1
: to reach the point of physical exhaustion during strenuous activity
2
: to reach a limiting point or situation at which progress or success ceases
See hit defined for English-language learners
See hit defined for kids
Origin of HIT
Middle English, from Old English hyttan, probably from Old Norse hitta to meet with, hit
Related to HIT
2hit
noun
: an act of hitting someone or something
: something that is very successful
: someone or something that is liked by someone very much
Full Definition of HIT
1
: an act or instance of hitting or being hit <more hits than misses>
2
a : a stroke of luck b : a great success
3
: a telling or critical remark
4
: base hit
5
: a quantity of a drug ingested at one time
6
: a premeditated murder committed especially by a member of a crime syndicate
7
: an instance of connecting to a particular Web site <a million hits per day>
8
: a successful match in a search (as of a computer database or the Internet)
— hit·less \ˈhit-ləs\ adjective
See hit defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of HIT
15th century
HIT Defined for Kids
1hit
verb \ˈhit\
hithit·ting
Definition of HIT for Kids
1
: to strike or be struck by (someone or something) forcefully
2
: to cause or allow (something) to come into contact with something <He hit his head on the door.>
3
: to affect or be affected by in a harmful or damaging way <He was hit hard by the loss.>
4
: occur 1 <The storm hit without warning.>
5
: to come upon by chance <She hit upon the right answer.>
6
: to arrive at <Prices hit a new high.>
— hit·ter noun
2hit
noun
Definition of HIT for Kids
1
: a blow striking an object aimed at <Bombers scored a direct hit.>
2
: something very successful <The show is a hit.>
3
: a batted baseball that enables the batter to reach base safely
4
: a match in a computer search <The search produced over a thousand hits.>
Learn More About HIT
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Next Word in the Dictionary: hit–and–missPrevious Word in the Dictionary: HistrixAll Words Near: hit
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