ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hit

v. · n. · adj.
US //ˈhɪt// UK //hˈɪt// hit
Irregular verb past hit past participle hit
  1. 1 to strike (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to move your hand or an object quickly to touch someone or something with force.

    to strike a person or object with a blow or projectile. Transitive, though it can be used intransitively to describe the act of impact.

    Example

    He accidentally hit the ball through the neighbor's window.

    Example

    The boxer managed to hit his opponent with a swift left hook before the round ended.
  2. 2 to reach a level (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to reach a specific number, level, or place.

    to reach or attain a specific point, level, or threshold.

    Example

    The temperature is expected to hit thirty degrees this afternoon.

    Example

    The company's stock price hit an all-time high following the announcement of the merger.

    Usage

    Often used with numbers or milestones.
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  1. 3 to affect negatively (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to have a bad effect on someone or something.

    to affect someone or something in a harmful or distressing way.

    Example

    The small town was hit hard by the closing of the factory.

    Example

    Rural communities were disproportionately hit by the sudden increase in fuel taxes.

    Usage

    Usually used in the passive voice to describe victims of events.
  2. 4 to go to a place (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    to go to or visit a place, often quickly or for a short time.

    to arrive at or visit a location. Informal in register.

    Example

    Let's hit the shops before they close for the evening.

    Example

    After a long day of meetings, the team decided to hit the hotel bar for a quick drink.

    Teacher's tip

    Common in phrases like 'hit the gym' or 'hit the road'.
  3. 5 a success (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    something that is very popular and successful, like a song or a movie.

    a person or thing that is a great success, particularly in entertainment or commerce.

    Example

    The band's new album became a huge hit within a week.

    Example

    The musical proved to be an unexpected hit, selling out every performance during its initial three-month run.
  4. 6 an impact (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the act of one thing striking another.

    a physical blow or the collision of a projectile with a target.

    Example

    The ship took a direct hit from the torpedo.

    Example

    The radar confirmed a hit on the target just seconds after the missile was launched.
  5. 7 internet search result (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

    a single result that appears when you search for something on a computer.

    an instance of a match found in a computer search or a request for a file from a web server.

    Example

    My search for the old book returned over a thousand hits.

    Example

    The website's server struggled to handle the sudden surge of hits following the viral social media post.

    Teacher's tip

    In modern web analytics, 'views' or 'visits' is often preferred over 'hits'.
  6. 8 murder for hire (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Law

    a planned murder, usually done for money or by a criminal group.

    a premeditated murder carried out by a professional killer.

    Example

    The police believe the killing was a professional hit.

    Example

    The informant claimed that the gang leader had ordered a hit on a rival member.

    Usage

    Often used with the verb 'ordered' or 'carried out'.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a very specific criminal term; learners should be aware of its dark context.
  7. 9 very successful (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    describing something that is very popular.

    highly successful or popular; typically used as an attributive adjective.

    Example

    She is the star of a hit TV show about doctors.

    Example

    The studio is already planning a sequel to their hit summer blockbuster.

    Usage

    Almost always placed before the noun.
Etymology 1

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kh₂eyd-der. Proto-Indo-European *kh₂id-néh₂-ti Proto-Germanic *hittijaną Old Norse hittader. Old English hyttan Middle English hitten English hit Inherited from Middle English hitten (“to hit, strike, make contact with”), from Old English hittan (“to meet with, come upon, fall in with”), from Old Norse hitta (“to strike, meet”), from Proto-Germanic hittijaną (“to come upon, find”), from Proto-Indo-European kh₂eyd- (“to fall; fall upon; hit; cut; hew”). Cognates Cognate with West Frisian hitte (“to meet”), Dutch hitten (“to hit, encounter”), Danish hitte (“to find”), Faroese, Icelandic, Swedish hitta (“to meet”), Norwegian Nynorsk hitta, hitte (“to meet; to find”), Latin caedō (“to kill”), Albanian qit (“to hit, throw, pull out, release”). Probably also related to Dutch hei (“mallet”), German Heie (“wooden hammer, mallet”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English hit (“it”), from Old English hit (“it”), from Proto-Germanic hit (“this, this one”), from Proto-Indo-European ḱe-, *ḱey- (“this, here”). Cognate with Dutch het (“it”). More at it; also note 'it.

Word family
Idioms52 entries

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