hit
noun
Hit — the successful, decisive stroke that defines a moment of triumph
Definition
(baseball) a successful stroke in an athletic contest (especially in baseball); "he came all the way around on Williams' hit"
In depth
A hit is a successful stroke in an athletic contest, most famously in baseball, where it names the batter's successful contact sending the ball into play. Beyond sport, the word has expanded to describe any successful, well-received result — a song, a film, an idea — that lands precisely as intended and is rewarded with enthusiastic reception.
Origin
The word descends from Old Norse hitta, to meet with or come upon, originally carrying a sense of chance encounter rather than deliberate striking. That older sense of fortunate meeting still echoes faintly in phrases like 'hit it off' or a song becoming 'a hit,' both suggesting something landing, almost by happy accident, exactly where it needed to.
Usage examples
"He came alive at the plate, delivering the hit that finally broke the tie in the bottom of the ninth."
"The song became an unexpected hit, playing on every radio station within weeks of its release."
"Her joke landed as an instant hit with the entire room, even those who rarely laughed at anything."
How to use it
Hit is versatile across sports writing, entertainment journalism, and casual conversation, valued for its brevity and energy. Writers should distinguish this sense of triumphant success from the unrelated and far more violent sense of 'hit' meaning a physical blow or strike.
Related concepts
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