hit-and-run

1 of 3

adjective

1
: being or relating to a hit-and-run in baseball
2
: being or involving a motor-vehicle driver who does not stop after being involved in an accident
3
: involving or intended for quick specific action or results
a hit-and-run raid

hit-and-run

2 of 3

noun

: a baseball play calling for a runner on first to begin running as a pitch is delivered and for the batter to attempt to hit the pitch

hit-and-run

3 of 3

verb

hit-and-ran; hitting-and-running; hit-and-runs

intransitive verb

: to execute a hit-and-run play in baseball

Examples of hit-and-run in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
On this Friday night, Feb. 23, what’s more important is a Ukrainian woman’s search for her husband, a jury’s verdict in a hit-and-run, and in sports, a profile of UCLA’s mercurial basketball coach, as well as the obituaries, comics and horoscopes. Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024 Lugo died two hours after the clock struck midnight Jan. 1 in a south Phoenix hit-and-run crash. Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 10 Mar. 2024 Police are investigating a hit-and-run that injured three pedestrians overnight at Indy's popular bar-hopping neighborhood, Mass Ave. Binghui Huang, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Mar. 2024 Folsom police were called about 3:45 p.m. to the area of Greenback Lane and Folsom Boulevard for a report of a hit-and-run. Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024 The maximum penalty for the hit-and-run charge, a Class-D felony, is 25 years in prison and $100,000 fine. Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2024 The family of a 28-year-old man killed in a hit-and-run crash in Adams County in December is struggling to find closure as police continue to search for the driver who fled the scene. Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2024 Jaylin Todd, 16, was identified by police as the victim of a hit-and-run crash that involved a van that fled the scene on Saturday. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 29 Feb. 2024 Police were not able to find any witnesses who saw the hit-and-run, Ciampa said. Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 27 Feb. 2024
Verb
Daniels also pleaded guilty to destruction of property, hit-and-run and reckless driving charges connected to the March 22, 2021, crash at the Verizon store in the Potomac Yard neighborhood. Salvador Rizzo, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2023 Although it was initially dubbed a hit-and-run, the evidence never sat well with state investigators or the Smith family. Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 24 Mar. 2023 His 2015 death was initially deemed a hit-and-run, but Sandy Smith never believed that was the case. Christina Maxouris, CNN, 23 Mar. 2023 An 11-year-old girl was killed early Wednesday in a wrong-way crash involving a hit-and-run driver on the 60 Freeway near the City of Industry, according to authorities. Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2023 Smith’s mother, Sandy, has long been the most vocal critic of the hit-and-run finding. John Monk, al, 22 Mar. 2023 Smith was found dead on a Hampton County road in July 2015, his death initially ruled the result of blunt force trauma from a hit-and-run accident. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2023 Smith's death was initially ruled a hit-and-run, but after the exhumation, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) said there were no indications that is how his death could have occurred. Conrad Hoyt, Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2023 His death was ruled a hit-and-run after an initial investigation, which his family has criticized. Michael M. Dewitt, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hit-and-run.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1904, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hit-and-run was in 1899

Dictionary Entries Near hit-and-run

Cite this Entry

“Hit-and-run.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hit-and-run. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hit-and-run

adjective
-ˈrən
1
: being or involving a motor-vehicle driver who does not stop after having an accident
2
: involving or intended for quick action or results

Legal Definition

hit-and-run

adjective
1
: having left the scene of a motor vehicle accident without stopping to fulfill the duties imposed by law (as rendering aid or giving identification)
a hit-and-run driver
2
: involving or concerning a hit-and-run driver
a hit-and-run accident
hit-and-run statutes

More from Merriam-Webster on hit-and-run

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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