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to hit

to hit

870 2.5
To reach a target or goal
  • verb
  • /hɪt/
translation icon : 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
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
320 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
110 3.9

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

is more general and does not stress effort
10 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

158 1.3

To be without something needed or expected

64 3.9

Fail to reach the level people expect

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 Close

to surpass
100 4.6
to hit
870 2.5
to come close
51 2.8
to miss
158 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.