1hit 
/ˈhɪt/ verb
hits; hit; hit·ting /ˈhɪt/ verb 1 a : to move your hand, a bat, etc., quickly so that it touches someone or something in a forceful or violent way [+ obj] ▪ She told her son to stop hitting his sister. ▪ She hit him hard with her purse. ▪ He hit the fence with a stick. = He hit a stick against/on the fence. ▪ The boxers hit each other with their fists. [no obj] ▪ The boxers were hitting furiously at each other.
b [+ obj] : to cause (something, such as a ball) to move by hitting it forcefully with a bat, racket, etc.
▪ He hit a fastball (over the fence) for a home run. ▪ She hit the ball right to the shortstop.
c : to touch (something or someone) in a forceful or violent way after moving at a high speed [+ obj] ▪ The ball hit the house. ▪ The plate shattered when it hit the floor. ▪ The tank was hit by enemy fire. ▪ He was hit by a car. ▪ The ship hit an iceberg. [no obj] ▪ The plate shattered when it hit.
d [+ obj] : to cause or allow (something, such as part of your body) to touch something in a forceful or violent way
▪ I accidentally hit my head on/against the side of the door while I was getting into the car. ▪ She hit her elbow on the edge of the table. 2 a [+ obj] : to attack (something or someone)
▪ Our plan is to hit the enemy before they can hit us.
b : to affect (something or someone) in a harmful or damaging way [+ obj] ▪ The ship was hit by a sudden storm. ▪ A powerful earthquake hit the city. ▪ Many families have been hit hard by the layoffs. = Many families have been hard hit by the layoffs. [=many families have been badly affected/hurt by the layoffs] ▪ If you really want to teach your son a lesson you should hit him where it hurts and take away his cell phone. [no obj] ▪ Many people were unprepared when the storm hit. ▪ The layoffs have hit hard here. 3 [+ obj] a : to come to (something) by chance or accident while you are moving
▪ We hit a west wind coming out of port. ▪ I was late because I hit a traffic jam on the way over.
b : to begin to have or experience (problems, trouble, etc.)
▪ The project went smoothly at first, but then we started to hit [=encounter] some problems. 4 [+ obj] informal : to become suddenly or completely clear to (someone) : strike
▪ It suddenly hit [=occurred to] me that I was doing something wrong. [=I suddenly realized that I was doing something wrong] ▪ The importance of the victory hasn't really hit her yet. ▪ I was just about to give up when the solution hit me. ▪ When you meet him, the first thing that hits you [=the first thing that you notice] is his air of confidence. ▪ The smell hit me [=I noticed the smell] as soon as I opened the door. 5 [+ obj] : to get or come to (a goal, level, etc.) : reach
▪ He hit 100 mph on his motorcycle. ▪ They expect the temperature to hit 90 this afternoon. ▪ Sales hit $100 million last year alone. ▪ Gold prices hit an all-time high last week. ▪ a singer who can hit the high notes ▪ He kept digging until he hit [=struck] water. ▪ The stock market hit bottom. [=reached an extremely low point] ▪ (informal) Next year he'll hit the big four-oh/five-oh. [=turn 40/50 years of age] 6 [+ obj] informal : to arrive or appear at, in, or on (a place)
▪ We hit [=went to] the beach nearly every day this summer. ▪ They got up early and headed out to hit the (ski) slopes. [=to go skiing] ▪ The magazine's new issue hits newsstands tomorrow. [=the new issue becomes available on newsstands tomorrow] ▪ The new product should hit the shelves/market soon. = The new product should hit stores soon. [=the new product should be available in stores soon] ▪ These new illegal drugs only recently hit the street. [=became available for illegal purchase] 7 [+ obj] informal a : to turn (something) on or off with a switch
▪ Could someone please hit the lights?
b : to move (a switch) to an on or off position
▪ The lights came on when she hit the switch.
c : to push down on (the brake pedal or accelerator in a vehicle) in a sudden and forceful way
▪ I had to hit the brakes hard to avoid an accident. ▪ She suddenly hit the accelerator and sped away. = (US) She suddenly hit the gas and sped away. 8 a : to succeed in hitting (something aimed at) with a shot, throw, etc. [+ obj] ▪ hit the bull's-eye ▪ hit the target — sometimes used figuratively ▪ Her criticism really hit the mark. [=her criticism was very accurate] [no obj] ▪ The first shot hit but the second shot missed.
b [+ obj] : to succeed in making (a shot)
▪ She hit [=made, sank] 40 percent of her shots last season. ▪ She hit her first basket but then missed the next one.
c [+ obj] : to succeed in making a pass to (another player)
▪ The quarterback hit the wide receiver (with a pass) for a touchdown. 9 a [no obj] : to try to hit the ball with a bat in baseball, cricket, or a similar game
▪ It's your turn to hit. [=bat]
b [+ obj] : to produce (a home run, a ground ball, etc.) by batting
▪ He hit 30 home runs last year. ▪ He hit a ground ball to the shortstop. ▪ She hit a double to left field.
c [no obj] : to have a specified batting average
▪ This year he's hitting [=batting] .300. [=his batting average is .300]
d : to hit the pitches thrown by (a pitcher) [+ obj] ▪ He has hit this pitcher well/poorly in the past. [no obj] ▪ He has hit well/poorly against this pitcher in the past. 10 not used in progressive tenses [+ obj] informal : to deal another card to (a player in blackjack)
▪ Hit me. [=deal another card to me]
b [+ obj] : to cause (something, such as a ball) to move by hitting it forcefully with a bat, racket, etc.
▪ He hit a fastball (over the fence) for a home run. ▪ She hit the ball right to the shortstop.
c : to touch (something or someone) in a forceful or violent way after moving at a high speed [+ obj] ▪ The ball hit the house. ▪ The plate shattered when it hit the floor. ▪ The tank was hit by enemy fire. ▪ He was hit by a car. ▪ The ship hit an iceberg. [no obj] ▪ The plate shattered when it hit.
d [+ obj] : to cause or allow (something, such as part of your body) to touch something in a forceful or violent way
▪ I accidentally hit my head on/against the side of the door while I was getting into the car. ▪ She hit her elbow on the edge of the table.
▪ Our plan is to hit the enemy before they can hit us.
b : to affect (something or someone) in a harmful or damaging way [+ obj] ▪ The ship was hit by a sudden storm. ▪ A powerful earthquake hit the city. ▪ Many families have been hit hard by the layoffs. = Many families have been hard hit by the layoffs. [=many families have been badly affected/hurt by the layoffs] ▪ If you really want to teach your son a lesson you should hit him where it hurts and take away his cell phone. [no obj] ▪ Many people were unprepared when the storm hit. ▪ The layoffs have hit hard here.
▪ We hit a west wind coming out of port. ▪ I was late because I hit a traffic jam on the way over.
b : to begin to have or experience (problems, trouble, etc.)
▪ The project went smoothly at first, but then we started to hit [=encounter] some problems.
▪ It suddenly hit [=occurred to] me that I was doing something wrong. [=I suddenly realized that I was doing something wrong] ▪ The importance of the victory hasn't really hit her yet. ▪ I was just about to give up when the solution hit me. ▪ When you meet him, the first thing that hits you [=the first thing that you notice] is his air of confidence. ▪ The smell hit me [=I noticed the smell] as soon as I opened the door.
▪ He hit 100 mph on his motorcycle. ▪ They expect the temperature to hit 90 this afternoon. ▪ Sales hit $100 million last year alone. ▪ Gold prices hit an all-time high last week. ▪ a singer who can hit the high notes ▪ He kept digging until he hit [=struck] water. ▪ The stock market hit bottom. [=reached an extremely low point] ▪ (informal) Next year he'll hit the big four-oh/five-oh. [=turn 40/50 years of age]
▪ We hit [=went to] the beach nearly every day this summer. ▪ They got up early and headed out to hit the (ski) slopes. [=to go skiing] ▪ The magazine's new issue hits newsstands tomorrow. [=the new issue becomes available on newsstands tomorrow] ▪ The new product should hit the shelves/market soon. = The new product should hit stores soon. [=the new product should be available in stores soon] ▪ These new illegal drugs only recently hit the street. [=became available for illegal purchase]
▪ Could someone please hit the lights?
b : to move (a switch) to an on or off position
▪ The lights came on when she hit the switch.
c : to push down on (the brake pedal or accelerator in a vehicle) in a sudden and forceful way
▪ I had to hit the brakes hard to avoid an accident. ▪ She suddenly hit the accelerator and sped away. = (US) She suddenly hit the gas and sped away.
b [+ obj] : to succeed in making (a shot)
▪ She hit [=made, sank] 40 percent of her shots last season. ▪ She hit her first basket but then missed the next one.
c [+ obj] : to succeed in making a pass to (another player)
▪ The quarterback hit the wide receiver (with a pass) for a touchdown.
▪ It's your turn to hit. [=bat]
b [+ obj] : to produce (a home run, a ground ball, etc.) by batting
▪ He hit 30 home runs last year. ▪ He hit a ground ball to the shortstop. ▪ She hit a double to left field.
c [no obj] : to have a specified batting average
▪ This year he's hitting [=batting] .300. [=his batting average is .300]
d : to hit the pitches thrown by (a pitcher) [+ obj] ▪ He has hit this pitcher well/poorly in the past. [no obj] ▪ He has hit well/poorly against this pitcher in the past.
▪ Hit me. [=deal another card to me]
hit a nerve — see nerve
hit a/the wall — see 1wall
hit back [phrasal verb]
: to attack or criticize someone who has attacked or criticized you
▪ If you hit me, I'll hit back. ▪ The team hit back with a touchdown of their own. — often + at ▪ The Senator hit back at his critics.
▪ If you hit me, I'll hit back. ▪ The team hit back with a touchdown of their own. — often + at ▪ The Senator hit back at his critics.
hit home — see 2home
hit it
informal — used to tell a group of musicians to begin playing ▪ Hit it, boys! [=let's begin playing music]
hit it off
informal : to become friends : to get along well
▪ The two of them hit it off (with each other) immediately. ▪ Though we work together, we've never really hit it off.
▪ The two of them hit it off (with each other) immediately. ▪ Though we work together, we've never really hit it off.
hit on/upon [phrasal verb] 1 hit on (someone) US, informal : to talk to (someone) in order to try to start a sexual relationship
▪ She's always being/getting hit on at the gym. ▪ Some drunk at the bar was hitting on her. 2 hit on/upon (something) : to succeed in finding (something, such as a solution)
▪ She thought about the problem for days before she finally hit on a solution. ▪ He hit on a new way to do things. ▪ We hit upon the answer accidentally.
▪ She's always being/getting hit on at the gym. ▪ Some drunk at the bar was hitting on her.
▪ She thought about the problem for days before she finally hit on a solution. ▪ He hit on a new way to do things. ▪ We hit upon the answer accidentally.
hit out at [phrasal verb]
hit out at (someone) informal : to make an angry attack against (someone)
▪ The singer hit out at [=(more commonly) lashed out at] her critics.
▪ The singer hit out at [=(more commonly) lashed out at] her critics.
hit someone for six — see six
hit the books — see 1book
hit the buffers — see 1buffer
hit the deck or hit the dirt or hit the ground
: to drop down to the ground or floor suddenly
▪ She hit the deck when the gunfire started.
▪ She hit the deck when the gunfire started.
hit the fan — see 1fan
hit the ground running
: to begin an effort or activity in a quick, energetic, and effective way
▪ The new administration hit the ground running after the inauguration.
▪ The new administration hit the ground running after the inauguration.
hit the hay or hit the sack
informal : to go to bed
▪ I'm tired. I'm going to hit the hay.
▪ I'm tired. I'm going to hit the hay.
hit the jackpot — see jackpot
hit the nail on the head
informal : to be exactly right
▪ He hit the nail on the head with that analysis.
▪ He hit the nail on the head with that analysis.
hit the panic button — see panic button
hit the road — see road
hit the roof or hit the ceiling
informal : to become very angry or upset
▪ His parents really hit the roof when they found out he had flunked out of school.
▪ His parents really hit the roof when they found out he had flunked out of school.
hit the skids — see 2skid
hit the spot — see 1spot
hit the streets or US hit the pavement
informal : to go out in search of something or for a specific purpose
▪ I grabbed the classifieds and hit the pavement, looking for a new job. ▪ The reporters hit the streets to interview passersby. — see also 1hit 6 (above)
▪ I grabbed the classifieds and hit the pavement, looking for a new job. ▪ The reporters hit the streets to interview passersby. — see also 1hit 6 (above)
hit the town — see town
hit the trail — see 2trail
hit up [phrasal verb]
hit (someone) up or hit up (someone) US, informal : to ask (someone) for something (such as money)
▪ She's waiting for the right moment to hit up her father for a loan. [=to ask her father for a loan] ▪ I donated money to that charity a few months ago, and they're already hitting me up for more.
▪ She's waiting for the right moment to hit up her father for a loan. [=to ask her father for a loan] ▪ I donated money to that charity a few months ago, and they're already hitting me up for more.
hit your stride — see 2stride
know what hit you — see 1know
