hit - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
hit Word Meanings
- to strike someone or something
- to reach or come in contact with
- to have an impact on someone or something
hit Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
hit Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/hɪt/
US
/hɪt/
hit Word Etymology
hit = hit (root). Originated from Old English 'hyttian', meaning 'to strike'. Visualize someone swinging a bat and making solid contact with a ball.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I draw back my arm, line up my stance, and breathe out as the moment comes. The fist moves forward and the contact happens, a quick sting that travels up the forearm. I feel the effort rise, my wrist adjusting as I push and pull to control the hit. The taste of it is simple: a decision in motion, something I’ll carry into real life when I need to hit a target, a ball, or a point in a conversation.
Real Context
Hit is a versatile verb used to describe making contact with something by striking, but it can also mean to reach or come into contact with a person, place, or idea. In sports you hit a ball with a bat or racquet, and in everyday speech you can say you hit the wall when you run into difficulty, or that a message hits home when it resonates. Hit is common in many phrasal and idiomatic expressions: hit the target, hit the brakes, hit the jackpot, or hit on an idea, which means to discover an idea. Some uses emphasize speed or force (hit hard) and others timing (hit the deadline) or influence (a policy hits many people).
Usage Reminders
- Remember these tips:
- - Use hit for both physical contact and impact in ideas or events.
- - Distinguish physical hit (hit the ball) from figurative uses (hit home).
- - Learn key phrasal verbs: hit the target, hit the brakes, hit on an idea.
- - Note the past form stays hit (no -ed).
- - Pair with prepositions carefully: hit by, hit with, hit against.
Common Misconceptions
- Hit only means physically striking something.
- All figurative uses are rare or informal.
- ‘Hit’ always requires a direct object in every sense.
- Confuse hit with strike or beat in all contexts.
- Mispronounce the word as a two-syllable word (hee-tt).
Thinking Differences
Hit blends literal touching and figurative effect; other languages often separate physical contact from impact or arrival with different verbs or constructions, so learners may mis-apply a physical verb to abstract uses or miss common phrasal verb patterns.
Learning Tips
- Build core collocations: hit the target, hit the brakes, hit the jackpot, hit home, hit on an idea, hit hard.
- Remember the past form is the same as the base form: hit.
- Differentiate physical hit vs. figurative hit with context.
- Practice phrasal verbs in context (hit by, hit with, hit up).
- Study authentic examples to avoid direct-language translations.
- Practice listening to natural speech to hear subtle stress in phrases.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 2: Usage
In which of the following sentences is 'hit' used correctly?
A.She danced hit the moonlight.
B.He hit the ball with a bat.
C.They hit to the park.
D.I hit a delicious pizza.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is similar to 'hit'?
A.Greet
B.Retreat
C.Attack
D.Laugh
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'hit'?
A.Miss
B.Find
C.Happy
D.Read
Step 5: Mastery
In a baseball game, the batter managed to hit a home run. Describe the action.
A.The batter missed the ball completely and struck out.
B.The batter decided to run the bases instead of hitting the ball.
C.The batter successfully struck the ball with the bat and hit it out of the park for a home run.
D.The batter hit a foul ball and got an extra chance to hit again.
Related Listening
🌱 Lite (Beginner)
🔥 Advanced
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