Main Entry:

¹hit

Pronunciation:

\ˈhit\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

hit; hit·ting

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English hyttan, probably from Old Norse hitta to meet with, hit

Date:

before 12th century

transitive verb1 a: to reach with or as if with a blow b: to come in contact with <the ball hit the window> c: to strike (as a ball) with an object (as a bat, club, or racket) so as to impart or redirect motion2 a: to cause to come into contact b: to deliver (as a blow) by action c: to apply forcefully or suddenly <hit the brakes>3: to affect especially detrimentally <farmers hit by drought>4: to make a request of <hit his friend for 10 dollars> —often used with up5: to discover or meet especially by chance6 a: to accord with : suit b: reach, attain <prices hit a new high> c: to arrive or appear at, in, or on <hit town> <the best time to hit the stores> dof fish : to bite at or on e: to reflect accurately <hit the right note> f: to reach or strike (as a target) especially for a score in a game or contest <couldn't seem to hit the basket> g: bat 2b7: to indulge in excessively <hit the bottle>8: to deal another card to (as in blackjack)intransitive verb1 a: to strike a blow b: to arrive with a forceful effect like that of a blow <the storm hit>2 a: to come into contact with something b: attack cof a fish : strike 11b d: bat 13: to succeed in attaining or coming up with something —often used with on or upon<hit on a solution>4obsolete : to be in agreement : suit5of an internal combustion engine : to fire the charge in the cylinders

— hit·ter noun

— hit it big

: to achieve great success

— hit it off

: to get along well : become friends <they hit it off immediately>

— hit on

: to make especially sexual overtures to

— hit the books

: to study especially with intensity

— hit the fan

: to have a major usually undesirable impact

— hit the ground running

: to begin or proceed quickly, energetically, or effectively

— hit the hay or hit the sack

: to go to bed

— hit the high points or hit the high spots

: to touch on or at the most important points or places

— hit the jackpot

: to become notably and unexpectedly successful

— hit the nail on the head

: to be exactly right

— hit the road

: leave, travel ; also : to set out

— hit the roof or hit the ceiling

: to give vent to a burst of anger or angry protest

— hit the spot

: to give complete or special satisfaction —used especially of food or drink

— hit the wall

1: to reach the point of physical exhaustion during strenuous activity2: to reach a limiting point or situation at which progress or success ceases