hit
hit definition
hit (hit)
transitive verb hit, hitting hit′·ting
- to come against, usually with force; strike the car hit the tree
- to give a blow to; strike; knock
- to strike so as to deliver (a blow)
- to strike by throwing or shooting a missile at to hit the target
- to cause to knock, bump, or strike, as in falling, moving, etc.: often with on or against to hit one's head on a door
- to affect strongly or adversely so as to distress or harm a town hard hit by floods
- to come upon by accident or after search; find; light upon to hit the right answer
- ☆ to arrive at (a place or point); reach; attain stocks hit a new high
- to go to; visit we hit all the art galleries in town
- strike, , , & (variously)
- ☆ Slang to apply oneself to steadily or frequently to hit the books
- Slang to demand or require of: with for; often with up she hit me up for a loan
- ☆ Slang to murder: said as of a hired murderer or an assassin
- Slang to supply with a drug, etc.
- ☆ Baseball to get (a specified base hit) to hit a double
- ☆ Blackjack to deal another card to
Etymology: ME hitten < OE hittan < ON hitta, to hit upon, meet with < IE base *keid-, to fall > Welsh cwydd, a fall
intransitive verb
- to give a blow or blows; strike
- to attack suddenly
- to knock, bump, or strike: usually with against
- to come by accident or after search: with on or upon
- ☆ to ignite the combustible mixture in its cylinders: said of an internal-combustion engine
- ☆ Baseball to get a base hit
noun
- a blow that strikes its mark
- a collision of one thing with another
- an effectively witty or sarcastic remark
- a stroke of good fortune
- a successful and popular song, singer, book, author, etc.
- Informal
- an instance of finding or matching particular data in a computer search
- an instance of being accessed: said of a website
- ☆ Slang a murder, as by a hired murderer or an assassin
- Slang a dose of a drug, a drink of alcoholic liquor, etc.
- Backgammon a game won by a player after one or more of the opponent's men have been removed from the board
- ☆ Baseball base hit
Related Forms:
- hitter hit′·ter noun
hit Idioms
hit it off
to get along well together; be congenial
hit off
to mimic or portray briefly and well, usually in a satirical way
hit on
Slang to make sexual advances to
hit or miss
without regard to success or failure; in a haphazard or aimless way
hit (out) at
- to aim a blow at; try to hit
- to attack in words; criticize severely
hit over the head
- to strike on the head
- to emphasize repeatedly or strongly to you don't have to hit me over the head with it—I understand
hit the fan
Slang to become suddenly embarrassing, troublesome, etc.; have a strong negative effect
hit the ground running
Informal to work or function vigorously and effectively from the very beginning
hit the road
☆ Slang to leave; go away
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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