hit

n. countable

A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈhɪt// UK //hˈɪt// hit

Archaic Dialect General-service Informal Slang

n. a song, movie, or show that is very popular and successful. When many people like something, you can call it a hit.

n. a commercially successful and widely popular piece of entertainment, such as a song, film, or theatrical show. This sense is common in informal and media contexts.

SIMPLE

The new song is a big hit.

CONTEXTUAL

The movie was a surprise hit at the box office, earning millions in its first week.

COMPLEX

Critics are often surprised when a low-budget independent film becomes a global hit, proving that audience connection sometimes matters more than marketing spend.

Synonyms

Antonyms

miss

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.

Usage

Often modified by adjectives like 'big', 'smash', or 'global' to emphasize the degree of success.

Idioms52 entries