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

Deputies are asking the public for help in tracking down the SUV that killed a woman Sunday morning in a hit-and-run crash in Miami’s Brownsville neighborhood. —Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2025

The incident began with a hit-and-run crash about 8:20 p.m. in the 15400 block of East 42nd Terrace, according to Officer Bryan Conley with the Independence Police Department. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2025

Verb

Traffic investigation officers are investigating the hit-and-run. —Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Sep. 2025

One person was killed in a hit-and-run crash early Saturday morning Denver’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, according to police. —Katie Langford, Denver Post, 6 Sep. 2025

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

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