hit-and-run

American  

[hit-n-ruhn] / ˈhɪt nˈrʌn /

adjective

1. guilty of fleeing the scene of an accident or injury one has caused, especially a vehicular accident, thereby attempting to evade being identified and held responsible.

   a hit-and-run driver.

2. involving or resulting from such action or conduct.

   hit-and-run fatalities.

3. Baseball. pertaining to or noting a play in which, to get a head start, a base runner begins to run to the next base as the pitcher delivers the ball to the batter, who must try to hit it in order to protect the runner.

4. marked by taking flight immediately after a quick, concentrated attack.

   a hit-and-run raid.

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verb (used without object)

hit-and-ran, hit-and-running

1. Baseball. to attempt or execute a hit-and-run play.

hit-and-run British  

adjective

1. 1. involved in or denoting a motor-vehicle accident in which the driver leaves the scene without stopping to give assistance, inform the police, etc

   2. ( as noun )

      a hit-and-run

2. (of an attack, raid, etc) relying on surprise allied to a rapid departure from the scene of operations for the desired effect

   hit-and-run tactics

3. baseball denoting a play in which a base runner begins to run as the pitcher throws the ball to the batter

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Other Word Forms

• hit-and-runner
  noun

Etymology

Origin of hit-and-run

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hit-and-run

The family of a 13-year-old boy killed in a hit-and-run say they are "devastated" after being told the driver who caused his death has had his sentence reduced.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

The Long Beach Police Department responded around 11:44 p.m. to the area of Ocean Boulevard and Golden Avenue about a hit-and-run collision involving a pedestrian and a vehicle, according to a police news release.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

The sheriff’s office has recommended that the Napa County District Attorney’s Office consider filing a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge.

From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026

The city of Los Angeles will pay $20 million to settle a lawsuit brought on behalf of a teen who lost his leg in 2023 in a hit-and-run in Boyle Heights.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026

One of these days I’m going to walk into the house and the news guy on TV will be reporting a hit-and-run that just happened downtown.

From "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Related Words

• arrest
• assault
• break in
• capture
• incursion
• invasion
• onslaught
• sortie
• surprise attack
• sweep