Hitting
'hɪtɪŋ
Definitions
3 meaningsTo strike or come into forceful contact with something or someone.
'hɪtɪŋ
To strike someone or something forcefully with a hand or a weapon.
The car was hitting the curb and swerved.
💡 Simply: When you 'hit' something, you're making contact with it! Like, if you're playing baseball, you try to hit the ball with the bat. Or if you bump into someone, you 'hit' them lightly.
👶 For kids: To touch something hard with your hand or something else.
More Examples
The boxer was hitting his opponent repeatedly.
The hammer hit the nail squarely.
How It's Used
"The batter was hitting the ball hard."
"He accidentally hit the car door against the wall."
To attain, reach, or achieve a target or goal.
'hɪtɪŋ
To arrive at or reach.
The project is hitting its deadline.
💡 Simply: Sometimes 'hitting' means you're reaching a goal or achieving something. Like, you 'hit' your target sales numbers or 'hit' the jackpot!
👶 For kids: To get to a place, like a target or a goal.
More Examples
We are hitting some resistance to the proposal.
The movie hit the top of the box office.
How It's Used
"The company is hitting its financial targets."
"We're hitting the road tomorrow."
To affect, impact, or influence someone or something.
'hɪtɪŋ
To affect or influence someone or something.
The economic downturn is hitting many businesses.
💡 Simply: When something 'hits' you, it affects you. Like, the sad song 'hits' you right in the feels, or a sudden storm 'hits' the city.
👶 For kids: To make something feel a certain way, like when a song makes you sad.
More Examples
The bad news hit her hard.
The joke didn't hit everyone the same way.
How It's Used
"The flu is hitting the community hard this year."
"The news hit him like a ton of bricks."
Idioms & expressions
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 it off
To quickly become friendly with someone.
"They hit it off immediately and became best friends."
hit home
To affect someone deeply, especially in an emotional way.
"The loss of his father really hit home."
From Middle English *hitten*, from Old English *hyttan* ('to hit, strike'), related to Old Norse *høtta* ('to hit, strike').
Used extensively throughout history in both literal and figurative senses, from physical impact to achieving goals.
Memory tip
Imagine hitting a drum – the action and sound of the impact.
Word Origin
"to strike, to find"