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verb \ˈhit\

Simple Definition of hit

  • : to move your hand, a bat, etc., quickly so that it touches someone or something in a forceful or violent way



Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

Full Definition of hit



  1. transitive verb
  2. 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

  3. 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>

  4. 3 :  to affect especially detrimentally <farmers hit by drought>

  5. 4 :  to make a request of <hit his friend for 10 dollars> —often used with up

  6. 5 :  to discover or meet especially by chance

  7. 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

  8. 7 :  to indulge in excessively <hit the bottle>

  9. 8 :  to deal another card to (as in blackjack)

  10. intransitive verb
  11. 1 a :  to strike a blow b :  to arrive with a forceful effect like that of a blow <the storm hit>

  12. 2 a :  to come into contact with something b :  attack c of a fish :  strike 11b d :  bat 1

  13. 3 :  to succeed in attaining or coming up with something —often used with on or upon <hit on a solution>

  14. 4 obsolete :  to be in agreement :  suit

  15. 5 of an internal combustion engine :  to fire the charge in the cylinders



hit it big

  1. :  to achieve great success

hit it off

  1. :  to get along well :  become friends <they hit it off immediately>

hit on

  1. :  to make especially sexual overtures to

hit the books

  1. :  to study especially with intensity

hit the fan

  1. :  to have a major usually undesirable impact

hit the ground running

  1. :  to begin or proceed quickly, energetically, or effectively

hit the hay


hit the sack

  1. :  to go to bed

hit the high points


hit the high spots

  1. :  to touch on or at the most important points or places

hit the jackpot

  1. :  to become notably and unexpectedly successful

hit the nail on the head

  1. :  to be exactly right

hit the road

  1. :  leave, travel; also :  to set out

hit the roof


hit the ceiling

  1. :  to give vent to a burst of anger or angry protest

hit the spot

  1. :  to give complete or special satisfaction —used especially of food or drink

hit the wall

  1. 1 :  to reach the point of physical exhaustion during strenuous activity

  2. 2 :  to reach a limiting point or situation at which progress or success ceases

Examples of hit in a sentence

  1. She told her son to stop hitting his sister.

  2. She hit him hard with her purse.

  3. The boxers hit each other with their fists.

  4. The boxers were hitting furiously at each other.

  5. She hit the ball right to the shortstop.

  6. The ball hit the house.

  7. The plate shattered when it hit the floor.

  8. The tank was hit by enemy fire.

  9. He was hit by a car.

  10. The ship hit an iceberg.

Origin and Etymology of hit


First Known Use: before 12th century




Simple Definition of hit

  • : an act of hitting someone or something

  • : something that is very successful

  • : someone or something that is liked by someone very much

Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

Full Definition of hit

  1. 1 :  an act or instance of hitting or being hit <more hits than misses>

  2. 2 a :  a stroke of luck b :  a great success

  3. 3 :  a telling or critical remark

  4. 4 :  base hit

  5. 5 :  a quantity of a drug ingested at one time

  6. 6 :  a premeditated murder committed especially by a member of a crime syndicate

  7. 7 :  an instance of connecting to a particular Web site <a million hits per day>

  8. 8 :  a successful match in a search (as of a computer database or the Internet)


play \ˈhit-ləs\ adjective

Examples of hit in a sentence


  2. The torpedo made a direct hit.


15th Century

First Known Use of hit

15th century

HIT Defined for Kids



verb \ˈhit\

Definition of hit for Students



  1. 1 :  to strike or be struck by (someone or something) forcefully

  2. 2 :  to cause or allow (something) to come into contact with something <He hit his head on the door.>

  3. 3 :  to affect or be affected by in a harmful or damaging way <He was hit hard by the loss.>

  4. 4 :  occur 1 <The storm hit without warning.>

  5. 5 :  to come upon by chance <She hit upon the right answer.>

  6. 6 :  to arrive at <Prices hit a new high.>






Definition of hit for Students

  1. 1 :  a blow striking an object aimed at <Bombers scored a direct hit.>

  2. 2 :  something very successful <The show is a hit.>

  3. 3 :  a batted baseball that enables the batter to reach base safely

  4. 4 :  a match in a computer search <The search produced over a thousand hits.>

Seen and Heard



to criticize in a loud and angry way

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