hit-and-run

1 of 3

adjective

ˌhit-ᵊn-ˈrən 

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

In a recent social media post, Wilder Police acknowledged their use of Flock cameras and credit the system with helping solve a local hit-and-run. — Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 24 June 2026

At the time of the hit-and-run, the purple-haired teenager was walking home from the bus stop in an area of the viaduct with no sidewalk. — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026

Noun

Police in Holbrook, Massachusetts, are looking to track down the driver involved in a hit-and-run that sent a 15-year-old girl to the hospital. — Amanda Callahan, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026

After further investigation, Elk Grove police identified Lee as the driver who struck Chan and forwarded a felony hit-and-run case to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Verb

Investigators also recovered additional evidence that police said pointed to Mullen’s involvement in the hit-and-run. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Elgin police officers dispatched to the hit-and-run scene were unable to get French to pull over. — Elgin Courier-News, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1894, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1904, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1966, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hit-and-run

• anyone
• everyone
• megaton
• overdone
• overrun
• begun
• grandson
• gudrun
• handgun
• homespun
• outdone
• outrun

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