👊 To strike 👊 A strike 🎯 To reach 💥 To affect strongly 🌟 A big success 🔫 A planned killing 💻 A web visit 💉 A drug dose 🔫 To kill

to hit

5 8.8

To kill someone as part of a plan, often by hired people

verb
/hɪt/

Offensive

: matar

"Ward Jackson was murdered sometime last night -- hit over the head with a shovel.

Examples

The mob contracted him to hit their rival, ensuring no witnesses were left alive.
If you were one of my boys, I would hit you so fucking hard.

Deadfall (2012)
Now say we did chase and they hit somebody and killed them.
If anyone complained twice, they got hit so bad they never complained again.

Fiction book (1990)
OK, OK, don't hit me.

Due Season (2022)
We wait until he's inside, and then we hit as soon as he attacks.

Fiction book (1990)
"You don't talk back to your father," he said, hitting me twice more across the face.

Fiction book (1990)
What's the matter, did somebody hit you? What's the matter, we aren't friends anymore?

Fiction book (1990)
The police uncovered a plot to hit a local businessman as part of a gang rivalry.
She feared that if they found out, they might hit her as part of their plan.

Synonyms

to murder

vsto hit

NSFW

∞ 3.0

To kill someone on purpose in an illegal way

is more specific to killings arranged as part of a contract

to off

vsto hit

Offensive

215 9.9

To kill someone on purpose

is about planned killing, especially when it is done for hire

to commit murder

vsto hit

NSFW

126 5.4

To kill someone illegally

is focused on hired, premeditated killing rather than all unlawful killings

to slay

vsto hit

NSFW

108 7.5

To kill someone on purpose

is narrower, stressing premeditated killing often for payment

to gun down

vsto hit

Offensive

75 7.4

To shoot someone, often causing serious harm or death

is about deliberate, planned killing often arranged as a contract

to dispatch

vsto hit

Offensive

21 7.7

To kill a person or animal quickly on purpose

emphasizes premeditated human killing often linked to contracted acts

to bump off

vsto hit

Offensive

11 9.3

To kill someone on purpose, usually secretly and as part of a crime

is focused on deliberate, premeditated killing often by paid arrangement

to polish off

vsto hit

Offensive

2 9.5

To kill someone on purpose

is about deliberate killing often linked to an arranged contract

to remove

vsto hit

Offensive

1 9.9

To kill someone on purpose, usually by a criminal group

is specifically about killing done on contract or by hire

Antonyms

to spare

100 3.5

Decide not to hurt someone even though you could

Idioms

to hit the jackpot

30 4.0

To have a big, unexpected success because of luck

to hit rock bottom

Informal

25 4.8

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

to hit the spot

Informal

16 5.1

To meet a need exactly, especially hunger or thirst

to hit the books

Informal

11 3.9

To study hard, usually by reading books or notes

to hit the sack

Informal

9 6.0

To go to bed to sleep

to hit a home run

Informal

9 3.4

To have a big success people do not expect

to hit pay dirt

Informal

9 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

to hit the big time

Informal

8 4.5

To become very successful and famous in your work

to hit the bricks

Informal

7 9.5

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

to hit a rough patch

6 4.8

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

to hit like a ton of bricks

Informal

4 8.0

To feel a sudden strong shock or surprise

to hit the roof

Informal

4 6.7

To suddenly become very angry

to hit the pavement

3 7.0

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

to hit the skids

Informal

3 8.4

Start to fail after a time of success

to hit the bottle

Informal

2 9.4

Start drinking a lot of alcohol to cope with problems

to hit the ceiling

Informal

1 6.8

To suddenly get very angry

to hit the waves

1 4.8

To go surfing in the sea for fun

to hit the rocks

Informal

1 7.4

Start having serious problems that lead to failure

to hit the sheets

Informal

1 8.6

To go to bed to sleep

to hit the pillow

Informal

1 3.7

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

to hit the bullseye

1 5.1

Do exactly what you intend

to hit like a lightning bolt

1 8.2

To feel sudden shock or surprise

to hit one out of the ballpark

Informal

1 7.4

Do much better than expected

to hit like a tidal wave

1 7.3

To suddenly feel a very strong emotion that you cannot control

to hit my funny bone

Informal

1 8.3

To make someone laugh a lot

hit with the ugly stick

Offensive

1 9.9

To call someone ugly as a joke

hit in the pit of someone's stomach

1 9.5

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

to hit two targets with one arrow

1 6.8

To do one thing that solves two problems

to hit the jugular

1 9.3

To attack the most important part of an argument or plan

a hit among the kids

2.8

Something that children like a lot

hit a cow's arse with a banjo

Offensive

9.9

To be very bad at aiming at a target

to hit by a clue stick

Informal

9.9

To suddenly understand something you should have noticed earlier

to hit him when he's down

Informal

8.2

Say mean things to someone when they are already in trouble

to hit a logjam

8.1

Progress stops because people disagree or something blocks it

to hit the bitch switch

Offensive

9.9

To suddenly become very angry and act aggressive

to hit one's stride

Informal

6.5

Start performing at your best after some practice

to hit the buffers

Literature

8.4

Suddenly stop or fail because of a big problem

to hit the target dead on

3.9

To do something exactly right

to hit with the clue stick

Informal

9.9

To explain something clearly so someone finally understands

Phrasal Verbs

to hit on

NSFW

194 7.8

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

to hit the road

Informal

103 2.5

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

to hit the ground

71 3.6

Touch the ground after falling or being dropped

to hit it off

Informal

66 3.6

To quickly become friends with someone when you first meet

to take a hit

47 5.0

To suffer a loss, for example in money or reputation

to hit home

45 5.5

To make someone suddenly understand how serious something is

to hit the ball

42 1.0

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

to hit bottom

40 5.1

Reach the lowest point after a time of trouble

to hit the streets

30 6.1

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

to hit the target

13 3.5

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

to hit the wall

11 7.7

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

to hit the trail

10 4.9

To start a trip by walking in the countryside

to hit the gym

Informal

9 3.6

To go to the gym to exercise

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 a snag

Informal

8 5.5

To meet an unexpected problem that stops progress

to hit upon

8 4.9

To find or think of something by chance

to hit a dead end

8 4.6

Reach a point where you cannot continue

to hit the deck

Informal

7 6.5

To drop to the ground quickly to avoid danger

to pinch-hit

7 7.6

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

to hit the bar

Informal

5 7.0

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

to hit the club

Informal

5 8.2

To go to a nightclub to dance and be with friends

to hit the dirt

Informal

4 7.5

Drop to the ground quickly to avoid danger

to hit a bump

4 5.8

Face a problem that slows progress or makes things harder

to hit the shelves

Informal

4 3.9

To become available for sale in shops

to take a hit

NSFW

3 8.9

To breathe in smoke from a cigarette or vape pen

to hit pause

Informal

3 4.3

Temporarily stop an activity to rest or think

to hit the dance floor

Informal

2 3.9

To start dancing at a party or club

to hit a roadblock

2 5.3

To face an unexpected problem that prevents progress

to hit the accelerator

Informal

2 4.4

To try harder or work faster to reach a goal

to hit out at

1 6.7

To criticize someone or something strongly in public

to hit the shops

1 2.7

To go shopping at several stores

to hit a breaking point

1 6.3

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

to hit it up

Slang

1 8.9

To meet someone and spend time talking and relaxing

to hit up against

1 6.8

Face unexpected problems or opposition while doing something

to hit a sixer

Jargon

9.9

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

Compounds

big hit

76 2.7

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

hit man

Offensive

75 7.6

A person who criminals pay to kill someone

hit and run

71 3.7

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

hit-and-run

51 5.4

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

hit list

Offensive

23 7.8

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

huge hit

21 2.8

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

base hit

13 3.3

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

smash hit

10 3.4

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

new hit

9 2.7

A new song that many people like and play a lot

hit squad

Offensive

8 8.4

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

hit-or-miss

Informal

7 6.9

Sometimes works well and sometimes fails depending on luck

hit-and-run

6 6.1

A quick attack where the attackers leave immediately

hit parade

Archaic

4 4.7

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

hit single

2 3.4

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

hit woman

NSFW

2 9.1

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

hit of the party

1 3.0

The most popular thing or person at a party

no-hit wonder

Literature

1 8.8

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

no-hit game

Jargon

1 5.9

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

two-base hit

Specialized

1 4.2

A baseball play when the batter reaches second base safely

three-base hit

Jargon

1 5.1

A baseball hit that lets the batter reach third base safely

hit and giggle

Informal

1 8.2

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

evergreen hit

4.5

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

girlypop hit

8.1

A catchy pop song that young women like

nervous hit

8.6

A sudden strong feeling of worry or loss of confidence

ultrapop hit

3.5

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

Surface Forms

hit infinitive

hit past

hit past participle

hitting present participle

hits third person singular

Etymology

Hit in the criminal sense is a slang use that comes from the old meaning 'to strike'; a hired killer 'strikes' a person, so to hit someone can mean to kill them in that illegal sense.