hit
A1neutral
Definition
Meaning
to strike or come into contact with something forcefully
to achieve success, to affect negatively, to reach a target, to occur suddenly
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Highly polysemous verb with meanings ranging from physical impact to abstract success. Can be transitive or intransitive. Often used in phrasal verbs and idioms.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal differences in core meaning. Some phrasal verb preferences vary slightly.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties. 'Hit' as success is equally common.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties with similar distribution across registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
NP hit NPNP hitNP hit NP PPNP hit ADJVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hit the nail on the head”
- “hit the roof”
- “hit it off”
- “hit below the belt”
- “hit or miss”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The new product hit the market last quarter.
Academic
The study hit upon a significant correlation.
Everyday
I'll hit the shops before they close.
Technical
The particle hit the detector at precisely 14:32.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The hail hit the roof loudly.
- She hit the brakes just in time.
- The news really hit me hard.
American English
- He hit a home run in the ninth inning.
- The storm hit the coast at dawn.
- That song really hit the charts.
adverb
British English
- The ball hit him square on the nose.
- She looked him right hit in the eye.
- The criticism hit home quite hard.
American English
- The arrow hit dead center.
- He punched hit me straight in the stomach.
- The comment hit close to home.
adjective
British English
- The show was a hit with audiences.
- She's written another hit novel.
- That joke was a real hit at the party.
American English
- The movie was a box office hit.
- He's had three hit singles this year.
- The new restaurant is a big hit downtown.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Don't hit your brother!
- The ball hit the window.
- I hit my head on the shelf.
- The company hit its sales target early.
- The idea hit me while I was showering.
- The hurricane hit the island yesterday.
- The economic crisis hit small businesses hardest.
- Her remarks hit a nerve with the audience.
- The novel hit the bestseller list within days.
- The allegations hit at the very heart of the institution.
- The new policy has hit a stumbling block in parliament.
- His research hit upon a previously unknown phenomenon.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HIT = Hand Impact Touch (remember it involves contact)
Conceptual Metaphor
SUCCESS IS HITTING A TARGET; DIFFICULTIES ARE WALLS TO BE HIT
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'hit it off' as 'ударить' (use 'поладить').
- Don't confuse 'hit the road' with literal road impact (means 'depart').
- 'Hit the books' doesn't mean physical violence toward books (means 'study hard').
Common Mistakes
- He hitted the ball (incorrect) → He hit the ball.
- She was hitted by a car (incorrect) → She was hit by a car.
- I hit to him (incorrect preposition) → I hit him.
Practice
Quiz
Which meaning does NOT belong to 'hit'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'hit' has many non-violent meanings including achieving success ('hit a target'), reaching ('hit the road'), or occurring ('hit upon an idea').
'Hit' is an irregular verb where the base form, past simple, and past participle are identical (hit-hit-hit), similar to 'put' or 'cut'.
Yes, metaphorically: 'The news hit me hard' means it emotionally affected me strongly.
'Hit' usually suggests a single impact, while 'beat' suggests repeated striking. 'Beat' also has more meanings (defeat, mix, rhythm).