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to hit

to hit

∞ 2.5
To reach a target or goal
  • verb
  • /hɪt/
: alcanzar
  • Josh is still the only person to hit it.
  • hit the target
  • hit the mark
  • hit the goal

But as soon as my feet hit that stage, I'm OK.

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Examples

  • This is the busiest and biggest town we've hit since you've left.

  • Official unemployment hit 25 percent in 1933, the year my mother was born.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Will we know if we hit it just about right?

  • So let us call that point where you hit as X.

  • And next week when our paychecks hit, we're done with debt.

  • Total funding for highways hit $200 million annually by the close of the decade.

    Academic text (2005)
  • The rate began falling four years ago after hitting a peak of 14.7 percent.

    Academic text (2017)
  • The outflow of capital is expected to hit $110 billion this year.

    Academic text (2015)
  • After training for months, she was thrilled to finally hit her target weight.

  • The team worked hard all year, and they were excited to hit their sales goal ahead of schedule.

Synonyms

to make
vsto hit
∞ 1.0

To reach a place or achieve a goal

is used broadly for getting to any amount or goal
to reach
vsto hit
∞ 1.1

Get to a place, level, or goal after effort

is the same idea but not limited to outcomes after effort
to gain
vsto hit
913 1.4

To get something useful, often by effort, like money or skills

focuses on getting to amounts or levels rather than obtaining benefits
to arrive at
vsto hit
431 2.1

Reach a place, for example a station, or come to a decision after thinking

is used for general getting to or achieving, not only for physical coming
to attain
vsto hit
106 3.9

To reach a level, place, or goal after hard work

is more general and does not stress effort
13 3.5

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

is more general, meaning to get to or achieve without precise aim

Antonyms

91 1.3

To be without something needed or expected

91 3.9

Fail to reach the level people expect

Idioms

To have a big, unexpected success because of luck

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

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

8 4.5

To become very successful and famous in your work

7 9.5

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

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

To feel a sudden strong shock or surprise

to hit the roof
  • Informal
4 6.7

To suddenly become very angry

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

2 9.4

Start drinking a lot of alcohol to cope with problems

1 6.8

To suddenly get very angry

To go surfing in the sea for fun

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

1 3.7

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

Do exactly what you intend

To feel sudden shock or surprise

Do much better than expected

To suddenly feel a very strong emotion that you cannot control

1 8.3

To make someone laugh a lot

1 9.9

To call someone ugly as a joke

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

To do one thing that solves two problems

To attack the most important part of an argument or plan

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

Progress stops because people disagree or something blocks it

9.9

To suddenly become very angry and act aggressive

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 do something exactly right

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

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

47 5.0

To suffer a loss, for example in money or reputation

45 5.5

To make someone suddenly understand how serious something is

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

40 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 the thing you aim at or the goal you planned

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

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

8 4.9

To find or think of something by chance

Reach a point where you cannot continue

to hit the deck
  • Informal
7 6.5

To drop to the ground quickly to avoid danger

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

Face a problem that slows progress or makes things harder

4 3.9

To become available for sale in shops

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

2 3.9

To start dancing at a party or club

To face an unexpected problem that prevents progress

2 4.4

To try harder or work faster to reach a goal

1 6.7

To criticize someone or something strongly in public

1 2.7

To go shopping at several stores

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

Face unexpected problems or opposition while doing something

9.9

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

Compounds

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

71 3.7

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

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

21 2.8

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

13 3.3

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

10 3.4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A sudden strong feeling of worry or loss of confidence

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

How Close

to surpass
99 4.6
to hit
∞ 2.5
to come close
158 2.8
to miss
91 1.3

Surface Forms

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

Etymology

Hit meaning to reach or achieve a level comes from the idea of 'hitting' a target or mark, so to hit a goal is to reach or succeed in getting it.