# hit /ˈhɪt/ (US) · /hˈɪt/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hit Updated: 2026-06-19 ## Senses ### 1. to strike verb · CEFR A2 to move your hand or an object quickly to touch someone or something with force. For teachers: to strike a person or object with a blow or projectile. Transitive, though it can be used intransitively to describe the act of impact. - He accidentally hit the ball through the neighbor's window. - The boxer managed to hit his opponent with a swift left hook before the round ended. ### 2. to reach a level verb · CEFR B1 to reach a specific number, level, or place. For teachers: to reach or attain a specific point, level, or threshold. - The temperature is expected to hit thirty degrees this afternoon. - The company's stock price hit an all-time high following the announcement of the merger. Usage: Often used with numbers or milestones. ### 3. to affect negatively verb · CEFR B2 to have a bad effect on someone or something. For teachers: to affect someone or something in a harmful or distressing way. - The small town was hit hard by the closing of the factory. - Rural communities were disproportionately hit by the sudden increase in fuel taxes. Usage: Usually used in the passive voice to describe victims of events. ### 4. to go to a place verb · CEFR B1 · Informal to go to or visit a place, often quickly or for a short time. For teachers: to arrive at or visit a location. Informal in register. - Let's hit the shops before they close for the evening. - After a long day of meetings, the team decided to hit the hotel bar for a quick drink. Teaching tip: Common in phrases like 'hit the gym' or 'hit the road'. ### 5. a success noun · CEFR A2 something that is very popular and successful, like a song or a movie. For teachers: a person or thing that is a great success, particularly in entertainment or commerce. - The band's new album became a huge hit within a week. - The musical proved to be an unexpected hit, selling out every performance during its initial three-month run. ### 6. an impact noun · CEFR B1 the act of one thing striking another. For teachers: a physical blow or the collision of a projectile with a target. - The ship took a direct hit from the torpedo. - The radar confirmed a hit on the target just seconds after the missile was launched. ### 7. internet search result noun · CEFR B2 · Technical a single result that appears when you search for something on a computer. For teachers: an instance of a match found in a computer search or a request for a file from a web server. - My search for the old book returned over a thousand hits. - The website's server struggled to handle the sudden surge of hits following the viral social media post. Teaching tip: In modern web analytics, 'views' or 'visits' is often preferred over 'hits'. ### 8. murder for hire noun · CEFR C1 · Slang a planned murder, usually done for money or by a criminal group. For teachers: a premeditated murder carried out by a professional killer. - The police believe the killing was a professional hit. - 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'. Teaching tip: This is a very specific criminal term; learners should be aware of its dark context. ### 9. very successful adjective · CEFR B1 describing something that is very popular. For teachers: highly successful or popular; typically used as an attributive adjective. - She is the star of a hit TV show about doctors. - The studio is already planning a sequel to their hit summer blockbuster. Usage: Almost always placed before the noun. ## Examples - The new song is a big hit. - The movie was a surprise hit at the box office, earning millions in its first week. - Critics are often surprised when a low-budget independent film becomes a global hit, proving that audience connection sometimes matters more than marketing spend. --- From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.