hit

verb (hits, hitting, hit)

• 1bring one’s hand or a tool or weapon into contact with (someone or something) quickly and forcefully:the woman hit the mugger with her umbrella [no object]:use your words, but do not hit the police hit out with billy clubs
• accidentally strike (part of one’s body) against something, often causing injury:she fainted and hit her head on the metal bedstead
• (of a moving object or body) come into contact with (someone or something stationary) quickly and forcefully:a car hit the barrier
• informal touch or press (part of a machine or other device) in order to work it:he picked up the phone and hit several buttons

• 2cause harm or distress to:the area has been badly hit by business closures
• [no object] (hit out) make a strongly worded criticism or attack:he hit out at suppliers for hyping their products
• (of a disaster) occur in and cause damage to (an area) suddenly:the country was hit by a major earthquake
• informal, chiefly North American attack and rob or kill:if they’re cops, maybe it’s not a good idea to have them hit
• informal be affected by (an unfortunate and unexpected circumstance or event):the opening of the town center hit a snag

• 3(of a missile or a person aiming one) strike (a target):the sniper fired and hit a third man
• informal reach (a particular level, point, or figure):his career hit rock bottom
• informal arrive at or go to (a place):we hit a diner for coffee and doughnuts it was still night when we hit the outskirts of Chicago
• be suddenly and vividly realized by: [with object and clause]:it hit her that I wanted to settle down here
• [no object] informal (of a piece of music, film, or play) be successful:actors are promised a pay increase if a show hits
• [no object] take effect:we sat waiting for the caffeine to hit
• informal give (someone) a dose of a drug or an alcoholic drink.
• informal (of a product) become available and make an impact on:the latest board game to hit the market
• informal used to express the idea that someone is taking up a pursuit or taking it seriously:more and more teenagers are hitting the books
• (hit someone for/up for) North American informal ask someone for:she was waiting for the right moment to hit her mother for some cash

• 4propel (a ball) with a bat, racket, stick, etc., to score or attempt to score runs or points in a game.
• score (runs or points) by hitting a ball with a bat, racket, or stick:he had hit 25 home runs
• [no object] Baseball (of a batter) make a base hit.

noun

• 1an instance of striking or being struck:few structures can withstand a hit from a speeding car
• a verbal attack:he could not resist a hit at his friend’s religiosity
• informal, chiefly North American a murder, typically one planned and carried out by a criminal organization.
• Baseballshort for base hit.

• 2an instance of striking the target aimed at:one of the bombers had scored a direct hit
• a successful venture, especially in entertainment:he was the director of many big hits [as modifier]:a hit comedy
• a successful film, pop record, or song:he was the director of many big hits
• informal a successful and popular person or thing:handsome, smiling, and smart, he was an immediate hit
• Computing an instance of identifying an item of data that matches the requirements of a search.
• an instance of a particular website being accessed by a user:the site gets an average 350,000 hits per day

• 3 informal a dose of a psychoactive drug.