present participle
It means touching a person or thing with your hand or an object using force.
The player is hitting the ball over the fence.
She is hitting the punching bag at the gym.
American English
How to pronounce hitting
verb · nounB1Very common word
HIHddihng
/ˈhɪ.ɾɪŋ/
2 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
Form of hit
Hitting is used with forms of be for an action in progress and can also name the act or skill of hitting.
It means touching a person or thing with your hand or an object using force.
What to listen for
“hitting” is pronounced /ˈhɪ.ɾɪŋ/; in natural American speech, the middle sound is often a quick tap, a little like a very fast “d.”
Meanings & examples
present participle
It means crashing into a person or thing.
The car keeps hitting the guardrail on the icy road.
The truck is hitting a concrete barrier after losing control.
present participle
It means reaching a particular number, level, or time.
The video is hitting one million views this week.
Temperatures are hitting 100 degrees today.
present participle
It means having a sudden and often harmful effect on a person, place, or group.
The storm is hitting the coast tonight.
Rising food prices are hitting families hard.
Useful expressions
to like each other immediately
Maya and Carlos hit it off at dinner.
to leave or start a journey
We need to hit the road before sunrise.
to say or do exactly the right thing
You hit the nail on the head with that answer.
Related words & forms
Use hit for the past; do not say hitted. Before -ing, the final t doubles: hitting.