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

After the crash, Tran called 911 and reported the truck driver for a hit-and-run, lying to police that he was stopped in traffic when he was hit, prosecutors said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 11, 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

The severity of her condition meant police had no reason to doubt Terry Andrews' story that she was the victim of a hit-and-run.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

I had a good arm, but we played against a lot of teams that could do the hit-and-run and steal a lot of bases.

From "Life Is So Good" by George Dawson

Related Words

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