to bring one's hand, a tool, or a weapon forcefully down on (something or someone) usually with the intention of causing harm or injury, to come into contact with (something) forcefully and intentionally, to be successful in achieving (a goal or target)

hit the nail on the head, hit the jackpot, hit the road

hit it off, hit the books, hit the ground running

Formal and Informal Expressions of hit

In different contexts, you can replace 'hit' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'strike, impact' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'whack, smack' is a commonplace synonym.

hit: Explore its Definition & Usage

hit Definition

1to bring one's hand, a tool, or a weapon forcefully down on (something or someone) usually with the intention of causing harm or injury
2to come into contact with (something) forcefully and intentionally
3to be successful in achieving (a goal or target)

Using hit: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "hit" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
He hit the ball with the bat.
Example
She hit him in the face.
Example
The car hit the tree.
Example
The new song has hit the top of the charts.
Example
I finally hit my sales target for the month.

hit Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for hit

Antonyms for hit

Idioms Using hit

hit the nail on the head
to do or say something exactly right
Example
When he said that the company needs to focus on customer service, he really hit the nail on the head.
hit the jackpot
to suddenly become very successful or lucky
Example
After years of struggling, she finally hit the jackpot with her latest invention.
hit the road
to leave or start a journey
Example
We need to hit the road early if we want to get to the beach before sunset.

Phrases with hit

hit it off
to quickly become good friends with someone
Example
I met her at the party and we hit it off immediately.
hit the books
to study hard
Example
I have an exam tomorrow, so I need to hit the books tonight.
hit the ground running
to start something immediately and with a lot of energy and enthusiasm
Example
As soon as she started her new job, she hit the ground running and made a great impression on her boss.

Origins of hit

from Old English 'hyttan', meaning 'to come upon, meet with'

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Summary: hit in Brief

The verb 'hit' [hɪt] means to strike forcefully with a hand, tool, or weapon, or to come into forceful contact with something. It can also mean to achieve success in a goal or target, as in 'The new song has hit the top of the charts.' Phrases like 'hit it off' denote quickly becoming friends, while idioms like 'hit the nail on the head' mean doing or saying something exactly right.