Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

hit-and-run

adjective
\ ˌhit-ᵊn-ˈrən How to pronounce hit-and-run (audio) \

Definition of hit-and-run

 (Entry 1 of 3)

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

noun

Definition of hit-and-run (Entry 2 of 3)

: 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

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

Definition of hit-and-run (Entry 3 of 3)

intransitive verb

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

First Known Use of hit-and-run

Adjective

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1904, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1966, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about hit-and-run

Dictionary Entries near hit-and-run

Histrix

hit

hit-and-miss

hit-and-run

hit-and-runner

hit a snag

hit back

Statistics for hit-and-run

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for hit-and-run

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

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for hit-and-run

hit-and-run

adjective
How to pronounce hit-and-run (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of hit-and-run

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: involving a driver who does not stop after causing an accident
: involving quick action by someone who then leaves or runs away quickly

hit-and-run

noun

English Language Learners Definition of hit-and-run (Entry 2 of 2)

baseball : a play in which a base runner begins running as soon as a pitch is thrown and the batter tries to hit the pitch

See the full definition for hit-and-run in the English Language Learners Dictionary

hit-and-run

adjective
\ ˌhi-tᵊn-ˈrən\

Kids Definition of hit-and-run

: being or involving a driver who does not stop after being in an automobile accident

hit-and-run

adjective

Legal Definition of hit-and-run

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

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with hit-and-run

Spanish Central: Translation of hit-and-run

Comments on hit-and-run

What made you want to look up hit-and-run? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

pungle

Listen to the pronounciation of pungle

to make a payment or contribution

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Time Traveler Quiz: Which Word Came First?

  • time traveler quiz which word came first
  • Which came first?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games