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
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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
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3
as in to achieve
to obtain (as a goal) through effort
the rock band hit "the big time" with their third album
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1
as in success
a person or thing that is successful
the new babysitter turned out to be a hit with the kids
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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
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as in to find
to come upon after searching, study, or effort
the doctor finally hit on what was wrong with the pain-wracked woman
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as in to ask
to make a request of
she's always hitting me up for money
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as in to encounter
to come upon unexpectedly or by chance
the popular belief that Sir Isaac Newton hit upon his understanding of gravity at the sight of an apple falling from a tree
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Cite this Entry
“Hit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hit. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.
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