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to hit

to hit

1.0
To strike someone or something with force
  • verb
  • /hɪt/
translation icon : golpear
  • The master got up and hit me so hard.
  • hit the ground
  • hit your head
  • hit the ball

You know who gets hit by a Taco truck?

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Examples

  • When I say "now," hit him with the light.

  • And remember the doctor said try not to hit your head again.

  • And one night they got hit really bad.

  • You definitely hit your head a few times.

  • Bob, you hit me with that sign one more time...

  • And the bus driver hit him, didn't even stop.

  • As they fly past, some bats are hit by the rotating blades.

    Academic text (2008)
  • He hit Henry Niles with his car.

  • The car weaves, runs off the road, hits a tree, and bursts into flames.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • He accidentally hit his hand against the doorframe while rushing to leave.

Synonyms

to beat
vsto hit
  • NSFW
1.2

To hit something or someone again and again, making a rhythm

is single forceful contact rather than repeated or rhythmic action
to strike
vsto hit
553 2.4

To hit someone or something with force

is more about causing impact or damage rather than neutral contact
to punch
vsto hit
455 1.4

To hit someone or something quickly with a closed fist

is general forceful contact not necessarily delivered with a fist
to slam
vsto hit
323 2.3

To close or hit something with great force and make a loud noise

is general forceful contact without stressing noise or closing action
to bang
vsto hit
318 1.0

To hit or close something suddenly and loudly

is about forceful contact often causing damage rather than focusing on noise
to hammer
vsto hit
198 1.6

To hit something many times to shape or flatten it

is about forceful contact generally, not specifically tool-based shaping
to batter
vsto hit
187 3.5

To hit something many times so it becomes damaged

is general forceful contact, not emphasizing repeated damaging blows
to smack
vsto hit
164 3.5

To hit someone or something with an open hand

is general forceful contact not limited to sharp open-hand blows
to assault
vsto hit
126 4.7

To attack someone physically or try to hurt them

is physical forceful contact, not primarily about emotional harm
slap
vsto hit
110 1.0

A quick sharp hit with the flat part of the hand

is broader forceful contact, not confined to quick flat-hand blows
to knock down
vsto hit
93 3.0

Use force to make someone or something fall to the ground

is general forceful contact that does not necessarily cause a fall
to land
vsto hit
83 4.7

To hit someone or something with force and accuracy

is general forceful contact that may not focus on accuracy
to run into
vsto hit
75 2.3

Hit something by accident while moving

is intentional or general forceful contact, not limited to accidental collisions
to bash
vsto hit
  • NSFW
73 2.9

To hit someone or something very hard

is a general forceful contact, not always extremely violent
to bashing
vsto hit
  • NSFW
57 3.2

To hit something or someone hard and repeatedly

is general forceful contact, not always continuous heavy blows
to pop
vsto hit
  • Informal
46 3.4

To hit someone or something quickly and lightly

is general forceful contact, not limited to light or quick impacts
to collide with
vsto hit
38 3.7

Hit something or someone while moving, causing a sudden strong crash

is a broader forceful contact, not only moving-object impacts
to thump
vsto hit
27 3.4

To hit something hard so it makes a dull sound

is general forceful contact often causing impact or visible damage
to bash in
vsto hit
  • NSFW
13 7.5

Hit something hard so it breaks or opens

is broader, meaning forceful contact often without causing severe destruction
to slug
vsto hit
  • Informal
10 4.6

To hit someone or something very hard, often with the fist

is broader, covering forceful contact not limited to fists
to headbutt
vsto hit
4 6.1

To hit someone or something hard with your head

is broader, allowing many body parts or objects for forceful contact
to knock against
vsto hit
3 2.7

Hit something by accident when you move and touch it

is general forceful contact, not specifically accidental brushes against objects
to bop
vsto hit
  • Informal
1 6.1

To hit someone quickly in a light, playful way

is broader forceful contact often without playfulness or lightness
to whomp
vsto hit
  • Informal
1 8.6

To hit forcefully with the hand or a flat object

is broader, not limited to use of hand or flat objects
to lay into
vsto hit
  • NSFW
1 7.5

Hit someone or something hard and violently

is general forceful contact without implying an aggressive attack
to knock about
vsto hit
  • UK
1 6.3

To hit something hard so it moves or gets damaged

is general forceful contact rather than a rough repeated treatment
to beat the daylights out of
vsto hit
  • Offensive
1 8.6

To hit someone or something very hard and damage it

is forceful contact that may be less extreme and not always destructive
to impinge on
vsto hit
8.0

Hit something suddenly

is general forceful contact that may include intentional blows or attacks

Antonyms

1.0

To fail to reach or hit something you aim for

Idioms

To have a big, unexpected success because of luck

22 4.8

To reach the lowest point in your life before you begin to get better

17 3.4

To have a big success people do not expect

to hit the books
  • Informal
12 3.9

To study hard, usually by reading books or notes

to hit the spot
  • Informal
11 5.1

To meet a need exactly, especially hunger or thirst

to hit the sack
  • Informal
10 6.0

To go to bed to sleep

to hit pay dirt
  • Informal
8 7.5

To find big success or money after trying hard

to hit the hay
  • Informal
8 6.0

To go to bed to sleep after a long day

7 4.5

To become very successful and famous in your work

To go through a short time with problems after a good time

to hit the roof
  • Informal
4 6.7

To suddenly become very angry

4 3.7

To go to bed and fall asleep quickly because you are tired

3 9.4

Start drinking a lot of alcohol to cope with problems

3 6.5

Start performing at your best after some practice

3 6.8

To suddenly get very angry

to hit the skids
  • Informal
3 8.4

Start to fail after a time of success

2 9.5

To leave a place, often to walk somewhere or to look for work

to hit the rocks
  • Informal
1 7.4

Start having serious problems that lead to failure

1 8.6

To go to bed to sleep

To go out onto the street to look for work, run for exercise, or sell things

To go surfing in the sea for fun

To feel a sudden strong shock or surprise

Do much better than expected

Do exactly what you intend

1 9.9

To call someone ugly as a joke

Something that children like a lot

To be very bad at aiming at a target

9.9

To suddenly understand something you should have noticed earlier

Say mean things to someone when they are already in trouble

Cause a sudden sick feeling of fear or shock in the stomach

To feel sudden shock or surprise

To suddenly feel a very strong emotion that you cannot control

Progress stops because people disagree or something blocks it

8.3

To make someone laugh a lot

9.9

To suddenly become very angry and act aggressive

to hit the buffers
  • Literature
8.4

Suddenly stop or fail because of a big problem

To attack the most important part of an argument or plan

To do something exactly right

To do one thing that solves two problems

To explain something clearly so someone finally understands

Phrasal Verbs

to hit on
  • NSFW
154 7.8

Try to show romantic or sexual interest in someone by making advances

138 5.0

To suffer a loss, for example in money or reputation

to hit the road
  • Informal
90 2.5

To leave a place and start a journey by car or bus

to hit it off
  • Informal
68 3.6

To quickly become friends with someone when you first meet

Touch the ground after falling or being dropped

To strike a ball with a bat or racket in a sport

26 5.5

To make someone suddenly understand how serious something is

21 5.1

Reach the lowest point after a time of trouble

Go out into public to take part in activities like protesting or selling things

To reach a point where you cannot continue because you are very tired or stuck

to hit the deck
  • Informal
10 6.5

To drop to the ground quickly to avoid danger

To reach the thing you aim at or the goal you planned

to hit it big
  • Informal
9 5.1

To become very successful, often quickly

to hit the gas
  • Informal
8 3.6

Press the car pedal to make it go faster

to hit the gym
  • Informal
8 3.6

To go to the gym to exercise

8 7.6

To do another person's work for a short time when they cannot

Reach a point where you cannot continue

7 4.9

To find or think of something by chance

to hit a snag
  • Informal
5 5.5

To meet an unexpected problem that stops progress

To start a trip by walking in the countryside

4 8.9

To breathe in smoke from a cigarette or vape pen

3 3.9

To become available for sale in shops

Face a problem that slows progress or makes things harder

to hit the dirt
  • Informal
3 7.5

Drop to the ground quickly to avoid danger

2 3.9

To start dancing at a party or club

To face an unexpected problem that prevents progress

to hit the bar
  • Informal
2 7.0

Go to a bar to have a drink and talk with friends

to hit pause
  • Informal
2 4.3

Temporarily stop an activity to rest or think

to hit the club
  • Informal
1 8.2

To go to a nightclub to dance and be with friends

1 4.4

To try harder or work faster to reach a goal

to hit it up
  • Slang
1 8.9

To meet someone and spend time talking and relaxing

To reach a stage when a person cannot continue and must make a big change

1 6.7

To criticize someone or something strongly in public

1 2.7

To go shopping at several stores

9.9

To score six runs by hitting the ball over the boundary without it touching the ground

Face unexpected problems or opposition while doing something

Compounds

hit man
  • Offensive
57 7.6

A person who criminals pay to kill someone

54 2.7

Something that many people like or buy, especially in one group

28 3.7

A road accident where the driver leaves without stopping to help or give details

26 5.4

A vehicle crash caused by a driver who leaves without helping or saying who they are

18 2.8

A product, show or event that is very successful and liked by many people

hit list
  • Offensive
17 7.8

A list of people marked to be harmed or killed, often by criminals

10 3.3

A hit that lets the batter reach base safely, not because of an error or fielder's choice

9 3.4

A very popular song released on its own that reaches the top of music charts

9 3.4

A very popular film, song, or book that many people enjoy

7 2.7

A new song that many people like and play a lot

hit squad
  • Offensive
6 8.4

A group of people hired to kill someone for political or criminal reasons

hit parade
  • Archaic
4 4.7

A list showing the most popular songs, films, or books

hit-or-miss
  • Informal
3 6.9

Sometimes works well and sometimes fails depending on luck

2 6.1

A quick attack where the attackers leave immediately

hit woman
  • NSFW
1 9.1

A woman who is paid to kill people, often using a gun

The most popular thing or person at a party

A song that stays popular and is loved for many years

king hit
  • NSFW
9.5

A sudden very strong blow or event that has a big effect

A catchy pop song that young women like

hit and giggle
  • Informal
8.2

A relaxed, fun activity people do for enjoyment, not to compete

A sudden strong feeling of worry or loss of confidence

no-hit game
  • Jargon
5.9

A baseball game when a pitcher does not let the other team get any hits

no-hit wonder
  • Literature
8.8

A person, group, or work that never becomes popular and has no hit

5.1

A baseball hit that lets the batter reach third base safely

two-base hit
  • Specialized
4.2

A baseball play when the batter reaches second base safely

A very popular pop song played a lot on radio and online

How Hard

to smash
311 2.1
to strike
553 2.4
to hit
1.0
to knock
937 1.0
to tap
174 1.0

Surface Forms

hit infinitive
hit past
hit past participle
hitting present participle
hits third person singular

Etymology

Hit goes back to old English hittan, which meant 'to meet' or 'to strike'. So to hit is like making strong contact with something, which is why it means to strike or knock something.