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

Two North Texas brothers are recovering from severe injuries after they were struck in a hit-and-run crash while walking to a Dallas Mavericks game last month. —Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025

The officers pursued the Kia to the intersection of University Avenue and Donohoe Street, where it was involved in a hit-and-run collision, according to authorities. —Jason Green, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025

Verb

Philadelphia police have released more information on the vehicle that struck and killed a South Street bar DJ in a hit-and-run last month. —Joe Brandt, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026

Lacy had been charged with negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run with death, and reckless operation of a vehicle. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 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
• povidone
• trazodone
• begun
• grandson
• gudrun
• handgun
• homespun

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