{
    "term": "hit",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a2",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "hit",
            "heSheIt": "hits"
        },
        "pastSimple": "hit",
        "pastParticiple": "hit",
        "ingForm": "hitting"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to bring your hand, or an object you are holding, against somebody/something quickly and with force",
            "sensetop": "hit somebody/somethinghit somebody/something with somethinghit somebody/something in/on somethinghit somebody/something in/on something with something",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I was afraid he was going to hit me.",
                    "contextForm": "hit somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She hit him with her umbrella.",
                    "contextForm": "hit somebody/something with something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Someone hit him in the face.",
                    "contextForm": "hit somebody/something in/on something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He hit the nail squarely on the head with the hammer.",
                    "contextForm": "hit somebody/something in/on something with something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was hit over the head with a broken bottle."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I was so angry, I wanted to hit him."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She didn't hit me very hard."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She hit him in the face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Their teachers used to hit them with a stick."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I felt like hitting him."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I picked up a sock and hit him over the head with it."
                },
                {
                    "text": "My parents never used to hit me."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["hard", "repeatedly", "directly"],
                "verb + hit": ["want to", "be going to"],
                "preposition": ["in", "on", "with"],
                "phrases": ["hit somebody over the head"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to come against something/somebody with force, especially causing damage or injury",
            "sensetop": "hit something/somebodyhit against something/somebody",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The bus hit the bridge.",
                    "contextForm": "hit something/somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The boy was hit by a speeding car."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The boat hit against an object under the surface of the water.",
                    "contextForm": "hit against something/somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "A taxi almost hit him as he was crossing the street."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She threw a plate at him and narrowly missed hitting him."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I was hit by a falling stone."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Health problems"],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["hard", "repeatedly", "directly"],
                "verb + hit": ["want to", "be going to"],
                "preposition": ["in", "on", "with"],
                "phrases": ["hit somebody over the head"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to knock a part of your body against something",
            "sensetop": "hit somethinghit something on somethinghit something against something",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I must have hit my knee."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He hit his head on the low ceiling.",
                    "contextForm": "hit something on something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "As she stood up, she hit her hand against the edge of the table.",
                    "contextForm": "hit something against something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I accidentally hit my knee on the desk."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I hit my head on the low doorway."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He fell, hitting his head on the hard stone floor."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["hard", "repeatedly", "directly"],
                "verb + hit": ["want to", "be going to"],
                "preposition": ["in", "on", "with"],
                "phrases": ["hit somebody over the head"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to reach and touch a person or thing suddenly and with force",
            "sensetop": "be hit by somebody/somethinghit somebody/something",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The town was hit by bombs again last night.",
                    "contextForm": "be hit by somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was hit by a sniper."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Not all the bullets **hit their targets**.",
                    "contextForm": "hit somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The grenade will explode as soon as it hits the ground."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was hit directly in the back."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["hard", "repeatedly", "directly"],
                "verb + hit": ["want to", "be going to"],
                "preposition": ["in", "on", "with"],
                "phrases": ["hit somebody over the head"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "to bring a bat, etc. against a ball and push it away with force",
            "sensetop": "hit somethinghit something + adv./prep.",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She **hit the ball** and ran to first base."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I hit the ball too hard and it went out of the court.",
                    "contextForm": "hit something + adv./prep."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We've hit our ball over the fence!"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "to score points by hitting a ball",
            "sensetop": "hit something",
            "labels": "(sport)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to hit a home run"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 7,
            "definition": "to press something such as a button to operate a machine, etc.",
            "sensetop": "hit something",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Hit the brakes!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He picked up the phone and **hit** several **buttons**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I found the impulse to hit the fast-forward button to be quite overwhelming."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I accidentally hit the wrong key."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Enter your password and then hit ‘Return’."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 8,
            "definition": "to have a bad effect on somebody/something",
            "sensetop": "hit (somebody/something)it hits somebody + adv.",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The tax increases will certainly hit people on low incomes.",
                    "contextForm": "hit (somebody/something)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "His death didn't really hit me at first."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A tornado hit on Tuesday night."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Rural areas have been **worst hit** by the strike."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Spain was one of the **hardest hit** countries."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It hit him very hard when Rosie left.",
                    "contextForm": "it hits somebody + adv."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Our department has been badly hit by the cutbacks."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Some businesses have been hit very hard by the rise in interest rates."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The plans could be hit by spending cuts."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Airlines were badly hit by the recession."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["badly", "hard", "heavily"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 9,
            "definition": "to attack somebody/something",
            "sensetop": "hit (somebody/something)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "We hit the enemy when they least expected it."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 10,
            "definition": "to reach a place",
            "sensetop": "hit something",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Follow this footpath and you'll eventually hit the road."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The President **hits town** tomorrow."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Traffic was heavy when they hit the main road."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They were making good progress when they hit a wide fast-flowing river."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It'll be two hours before we hit the border."
                },
                {
                    "text": "By the time we hit the city centre, everything was closed."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 11,
            "definition": "to reach a particular level",
            "sensetop": "hit something",
            "labels": "(British English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Temperatures hit 40° yesterday."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The euro hit a record low in trading today."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We **hit top form** *(= played our best)* in yesterday’s match."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The film doesn't always **hit its targets** *(= succeed in what it is attempting to do)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He had managed to hit his sales target this month."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Temperatures are expected to hit 30°C tomorrow."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 12,
            "definition": "to experience something difficult or unpleasant",
            "sensetop": "hit something",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "We seem to have hit a problem."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Everything was going well but then we hit trouble."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 13,
            "definition": "to come suddenly into your mind",
            "sensetop": "hit somebodyit hits somebodyit hits somebody that…",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The idea hit me like a tornado.",
                    "contextForm": "hit somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I couldn't remember where I'd seen him before, and then it suddenly hit me.",
                    "contextForm": "it hits somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "That's when it really hit me that we were in deep trouble.",
                    "contextForm": "it hits somebody that…"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 14,
            "definition": "to become widely available for sale",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the latest board game to **hit the market**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "to **hit the shops/stores/shelves**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her shocking autobiography is about to **hit the streets**."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be an important item of news in the media",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He always manages to grab the headlines."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The hospital hit the headlines when a number of suspicious deaths occurred."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The story was important enough to make the headlines."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be very successful",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The band has hit big in the US."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Success"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "if a plan, somebody’s career, etc. hits the buffers, it suddenly stops being successful",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The former tennis star’s comeback trail hit the buffers yesterday when she lost in straight sets."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Difficulty and failure"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to fall to the ground",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to affect somebody very deeply",
            "labels": "(British English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The business over the lawsuit had really knocked her for six."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to start doing something and continue very quickly and successfully",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [],
            "topics": ["Success"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to go to bed",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I decided to hit the sack and have an early night."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "if a remark, etc. hits/strikes home, it has a strong effect on somebody, in a way that makes them realize what the true facts of a situation are",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Her face went pale as his words hit home."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be very obvious to somebody",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to tell somebody to start doing something, such as playing music",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Hit it, Louis!"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to have a good friendly relationship with somebody",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "We hit it off straight away."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Family and relationships"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to make or win a lot of money quickly and unexpectedly",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to succeed/fail in achieving or guessing something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He blushed furiously and Robyn knew she had hit the mark."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The film misses the mark because it just isn't believable."
                }
            ],
            "topics": [
                "Success",
                "Doubt, guessing and certainty",
                "Difficulty and failure"
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to say something that is exactly right",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to mention a subject that makes somebody feel angry, upset, embarrassed, etc.",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "You touched a raw nerve when you mentioned his first wife."
                },
                {
                    "text": "My remarks about divorce had unwittingly touched a raw nerve."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The article struck a raw nerve as it revived unpleasant memories."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Feelings"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to suddenly be in a successful situation, especially one that makes you rich",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The band really hit pay dirt with their last album."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Success"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to do, say or write something that is suitable/not suitable for a particular occasion",
            "labels": "(especially British English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It is a bizarre tale and the author hits just the right note of horror and disbelief."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Unfortunately, the president struck the wrong note in his speech, ignoring the public mood."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to start a journey",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The following spring I hit the road."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to suddenly become very angry",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [],
            "topics": ["Feelings"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "if something hits the spot it does exactly what it should do",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to begin to do something with confidence and at a good speed after a slow, uncertain start",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "After a nervous start, he finally hit his stride in the second set."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The team took time to hit stride."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The show finally hit its stride in the second season."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to reach a point when you cannot continue or make any more progress",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "We hit a wall and we weren't scoring."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I’ve hit a wall with my marathon training."
                },
                {
                    "text": "What do you do when you hit the wall at work?"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to continue to hurt somebody when they are already defeated",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to affect somebody where they will feel it most",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to hit the wooden frame of the goal in the game of football (soccer), instead of scoring a goal",
            "labels": "(British English, informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She hit the woodwork twice before scoring."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be so surprised by something that you do not know how to react",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "when somebody in authority finds out about something bad or wrong that somebody has done",
            "labels": "(taboo, slang)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "When the shit hits the fan, I don't want to be here."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/hɪt/",
                "audio": "hi/hit/hit__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/hɪts/",
                "audio": "hi/hit/hits__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈhɪtɪŋ/",
                "audio": "hi/hit/hitting__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/hɪt/",
                "audio": "hi/hit/hit__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/hɪts/",
                "audio": "hi/hit/hits__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈhɪtɪŋ/",
                "audio": "hi/hit/hitting__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Old English hittan (in the sense ‘come upon, find’), from Old Norse hitta ‘come upon, meet with’, of unknown origin."
}