hit 1 of 2

verb

ˈhit How to pronounce hit (audio)
Definition of hitnext
1
as in to knock
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner a good carpenter hits a nail just two or three times to drive it in

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to bump
to come into usually forceful contact with something when she fell on the ice, she hit hard and badly bruised her elbow

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to achieve
to obtain (as a goal) through effort the rock band hit "the big time" with their third album

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hit

2 of 2

noun

1
as in success
a person or thing that is successful the new babysitter turned out to be a hit with the kids

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument the quarterback can't take too many more hits like that and escape permanent injury

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hit
Verb
With one out, the Florida Marlins’ Luis Castillo hit a foul ball down the left-field line. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026 Razer Gaming Keyboard Deal Prepare to hit lightning-fast combos with unbeatable precision using the Razer Huntsman Mini Gaming Keyboard. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
Hamilton reached on a hit by pitch, advanced to second after a poor pickoff attempt, went to third on a Jackson Chourio grounder, and scored on yet another end of the bat blooper from Contreras. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 The 10-hour event, dubbed Back to the Beginning, ended with Osbourne singing a handful of his solo hits and a reunion of Osbourne with Black Sabbath’s founding members. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hit
  1. knock
  2. bump
  3. achieve
  4. success
  5. blow
  6. slap
  7. collide
  8. win
Verb
  • That news knocked about 5% off its shares on July 27 and sent the cost of insuring its debt sharply higher.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Last season, the Seahawks ended San Francisco's year and knocked them out of the playoffs.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of knock
Verb
  • The Capricorn Moon squares the Libra Sun, making one-on-one expectations bump against your need for comfort or personal space.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Inside a training apartment on-site, specialists taught Darnes how to navigate daily life using touch, sound, bump dots, and his remaining senses.
    — La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of bump
Verb
  • The problem, Snegovaya said, is that achieving military autonomy for Europe and Ukraine is extremely difficult in the short term, and Europe has been slow to develop the necessary capabilities.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, second-unit director Peter Ramsey worked alongside stunt performers, with some creature interactions achieved through surprisingly simple physical stand-ins.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of achieve
Noun
  • Speculators may play an important role in markets by contributing to liquidity, but success is measured over shorter time horizons and requires sophisticated risk management.
    — Aneri Jambusaria, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Over the course of 10 years, Vincent created more than 800 paintings and 700 drawings, desperately hoping for financial independence and commercial success.
    — Joan Martelli, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of success
Noun
  • Now, in yet another blow to national self-esteem, the ex-head of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the BND, has been arrested on charges of exploiting state secrets.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The pro-Western opposition parties won big Saturday in the Czech Republic’s vote to fill one-third of the seats in Parliament’s upper house, the Senate, handing a blow to the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of blow
Verb
  • Antetokounmpo wasted no time in starting to rave about the Heat culture, a phrase that has become a lightning rod for criticism from talking heads around the NBA — especially after the franchise slapped the word across shirts and jerseys.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Less than three months after that deal was announced in January 2022, Smith became an industry pariah after slapping Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars, earning a 10-year ban from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of slap
Verb
  • As a result, the right side of the pickup truck collided with the right side of the motorcycle.
    — Felix Rodriguez, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Atlanta Falcons rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels needed to be stretchered off the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium after colliding with a Chicago Bears player while trying to make a tackle.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of collide
Verb
  • The production won the Tony Award for special theatrical event.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Soon, Senior is the new leader of his son’s gang, winning hearts and minds with ’Nam stories and chummy nicknames.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of win

Phrases Containing hit

Browse Nearby Words

histrionics
hit
hit-and-miss
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hit. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on hit

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hit

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All