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hit

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noun

hit (on or upon)

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verb (2)

hit (up)

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verb (3)

hit (upon)

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verb (4)

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hit
Verb
The 45-year-old was acquitted of charges stemming from her being accused of leaving her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, in the snow after hitting him with her car outside a party, and of leaving the scene of an accident, causing death. Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 18 June 2025 On Becoming a Guinea Fowl will hit streaming on Friday, July 4, making its linear debut on HBO on Monday, July 7 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 18 June 2025
Noun
News of the special Pride month menu has been a hit on social media, drawing customers. Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2025 Overall, the technology industry took a hit in the last few years as macroeconomic conditions deteriorated and private capital contracted. Kate Drew, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for hit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hit
Noun
  • Lean in during hard times to see long-term success.
    Parna Sarkar-Basu, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
  • Building on the success of the brand’s 65th anniversary collection, the collection balances nostalgia with elevated fabrics and contemporary silhouettes.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • Khan feared that delaying his departure beyond the deadline might have resulted in his wife and children being hauled off to a police station along with him, which would have been a blow to his family’s dignity.
    Elena Becatoros, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
  • Losing Senga for an extended period would be a major blow for the Mets, but there's still reason to believe the team will explore trades for its pitchers even with him sidelined.
    Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • Memphis sent Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in a blockbuster deal, landing a sizable return that included Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks, and a first-round pick swap.
    Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
  • In a clever flex of corporate synergy, Apple promoted its first summer blockbuster with the release of a haptic trailer that imitates the purr of an F1 engine in the palms of your hands.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • Some trepidation, some laughs, a slap, some vulnerability, a funeral, a revealing email, a lawsuit, an enormously successful comedy special, a roast, and so much more — as the three detail in the video recap, above.
    Gerrad Hall, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Not finishing the story is a real slap in the face to all the loyal fans who did stick around.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • The Twins scored their first run of the day Matt Wallner’s third home run of the season and two more in the seventh on RBI knocks from Ty France and Brooks Lee.
    Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 5 June 2025
  • Connor Wong led off with a single and Campbell and Duran followed with back-to-back doubles, the latter an RBI knock.
    Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 4 June 2025
Noun
  • As its infectious message, hip hop hook, gentle-against-forceful thump, radiates further into the zeitgeist expect it be heard everywhere.
    Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 15 June 2025
  • The only noise was the low thump from a boombox in front of a boba shop.
    Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
Noun
  • Unlike most fruity orange sauces, the Pickled Prince version isn’t sugar-forward — kumquats have the perfect mixture of sweet punch and pucker to complement the habanero.
    Ahmed Ali Akbar, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025
  • Rodgers could work wonders with a one-two punch of DK Metcalf and Watson.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • Then, the film falls with a thud, never to rise again.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
  • One struck a police cruiser with a thud, prompting a big cheer.
    Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025

Cite this Entry

“Hit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hit. Accessed 22 Jun. 2025.

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