Hit
/hɪt/
Definitions
4 meaningsTo strike or collide with something forcefully.
/hɪt/
To strike someone or something.
The car hit a tree.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're playing baseball. When you swing the bat and make contact with the ball, that's a 'hit'! It's also what happens when a car bumps into something or when you tap a button on your phone.
👶 For kids: To touch something hard, like when you bang a drum or when a ball touches your hand.
More Examples
He hit the target with the arrow.
She hit the button to turn off the alarm.
How It's Used
"The batter hit the ball over the fence."
"He hit the nail with the hammer."
To achieve a target or reach a certain level.
/hɪt/
To achieve a particular result or level.
The sales figures hit a record high.
💡 Simply: Think about it like this: if a song becomes popular, it 'hits' the top of the music charts. It also works when a product becomes successful in the market.
👶 For kids: To get to a certain place or score, like when you get to the top of the chart or when you play a game and reach the finish line.
More Examples
The movie hit a nerve with many viewers.
Her presentation hit the mark.
How It's Used
"The new product hit the market in January."
"The song quickly hit the top of the charts."
Something that is very popular or successful.
/hɪt/
A successful or popular thing.
The new restaurant is a big hit.
💡 Simply: Imagine a song that everyone's listening to, or a movie that everyone's talking about. That's a 'hit'! It's a success.
👶 For kids: Something that lots of people like a lot, like a fun game or a yummy snack.
More Examples
The band's latest album was a massive hit.
The comedian's jokes were a hit with the audience.
How It's Used
"The movie was a huge hit."
"The new phone is a big hit with consumers."
An act of striking someone or something.
/hɪt/
The act of striking someone or something.
The boxer delivered a strong hit.
💡 Simply: It’s when someone makes contact with someone else in a forceful way. It’s like when you throw a ball and it *hits* the wall. Also used to mean an attempt to cause harm to someone, which is often a criminal act.
👶 For kids: When you push, tap, or bump something or someone.
More Examples
The detective was investigating the contract hit.
The baseball player got a base hit.
How It's Used
"He hired someone to put a hit on his rival."
"That was a clean hit in the game."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
hit it off
To quickly become friendly with someone.
"They hit it off immediately and became best friends."
hit the books
To begin studying.
"I need to hit the books for my exam."
hit the road
To begin a journey or trip, often by vehicle.
"The cyclists hit the road early in the morning to avoid the midday sun."
hit the ceiling
To become very angry.
"My dad is going to hit the ceiling when he sees the bill."
From Old English *hyttan* (verb), possibly related to *hittan* (to find, meet with), and Proto-Germanic *hūtaną* (to strike).
The word 'hit' has been used in English since the Old English period, initially with the meaning of 'to strike'. Its use has expanded over time to encompass various meanings related to achieving results or popularity.
Memory tip
Think of a ball being hit with a bat.
Word Origin
"to strike"