pit

¹ American  

[pit] / pɪt /

noun

1. a naturally formed or excavated hole or cavity in the ground.

   pits caused by erosion;

   clay pits.

2. a covered or concealed excavation in the ground, serving as a trap.

3. Mining.

   1. an excavation made in exploring for or removing a mineral deposit, as by open-cut methods.

   2. the shaft of a coal mine.

   3. the mine itself.

4. the abode of evil spirits and lost souls; hell.

   an evil inspiration from the pit.

5. Slang. the pits, an extremely unpleasant, boring, or depressing place, condition, person, etc.; the absolute worst.

   When you're alone, Christmas is the pits.

6. a hollow or indentation in a surface.

   glass flawed by pits.

7. a natural hollow or depression in the body.

   the pit of the back.

8. Informal. pits, the armpits.

   up to my pits in work.

9. a small, depressed scar, as one of those left on the skin after smallpox or chicken pox.

10. an enclosure, usually below the level of the spectators, as for staging fights between dogs, cocks, or, formerly, bears.

11. (in a commodity exchange) a part of the floor of the exchange where trading in a particular commodity takes place.

    the corn pit.

12. Architecture.

    1. all that part of the main floor of a theater behind the musicians.

    2. British. the main floor of a theater behind the stalls.

    3. orchestra.

13. (in a hoistway) a space below the level of the lowest floor served.

14. Auto Racing. an area at the side of a track, for servicing and refueling the cars.

15. Bowling. the sunken area of a bowling alley behind the pins, for the placement or recovery of pins that have been knocked down.

16. Track. the area forward of the takeoff point in a jumping event, as the broad jump or pole vault, that is filled with sawdust or soft earth to lessen the force of the jumper's landing.

17. the area or room of a casino containing gambling tables.

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verb (used with object)

pitted, pitting

1. to mark or indent with pits or depressions.

   ground pitted by erosion.

2. to scar with pockmarks.

   His forehead was pitted by chickenpox.

3. to place or bury in a pit, as for storage.

4. to set in opposition or combat, as one against another.

   Synonyms:

   oppose, match

5. to put (animals) in a pit or enclosure for fighting.

verb (used without object)

pitted, pitting

1. to become marked with pits or depressions.

2. (of body tissue) to retain temporarily a mark of pressure, as by a finger, instrument, etc.

pit ² American  

[pit] / pɪt /

noun

1. the stone of a fruit, as of a cherry, peach, or plum.

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verb (used with object)

pitted, pitting

1. to remove the pit from (a fruit or fruits).

   to pit cherries for a pie.

pit ¹ British  

/ pɪt /

noun

1. a large, usually deep opening in the ground

2. 1. a mine or excavation with a shaft, esp for coal

   2. the shaft in a mine

   3. ( as modifier )

      pit pony

      pit prop

3. a concealed danger or difficulty

4. hell

5. Also called: orchestra pit.  the area that is occupied by the orchestra in a theatre, located in front of the stage

6. an enclosure for fighting animals or birds, esp gamecocks

7. anatomy

   1. a small natural depression on the surface of a body, organ, structure, or part; fossa

   2. the floor of any natural bodily cavity

      the pit of the stomach

8. pathol a small indented scar at the site of a former pustule; pockmark

9. any of various small areas in a plant cell wall that remain unthickened when the rest of the cell becomes lignified, esp the vascular tissue

10. a working area at the side of a motor-racing track for servicing or refuelling vehicles

11. a section on the floor of a commodity exchange devoted to a special line of trading

12. a rowdy card game in which players bid for commodities

13. an area of sand or other soft material at the end of a long-jump approach, behind the bar of a pole vault, etc, on which an athlete may land safely

14. the ground floor of the auditorium of a theatre

15. a slang word for bed bedroom

16. another word for pitfall

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verb

1. to match in opposition, esp as antagonists

2. to mark or become marked with pits

3. (tr) to place or bury in a pit

pit ² British  

/ pɪt /

noun

1. the stone of a cherry, plum, etc

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verb

1. (tr) to extract the stone from (a fruit)

pit ³ British  

/ pɪt /

verb

1. a Scot word for put

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pit Scientific  

/ pĭt /

1. The hard, inner layer (the endocarp) of certain drupes that are valued for their flesh, such as peaches, cherries, or olives. Not in scientific use.

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pit Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing pit

• the pits

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Etymology

Origin of pit¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun pit, pit(t)e, put(e), putte, Old English pytt “pit, grave,” from Latin puteus “well, pit, shaft”; verb derivative of the noun

Origin of pit²

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45, from Dutch, Middle Dutch pitte, pit “kernel”; cognate with pith

Example Sentences

The dwelling sits on a 1.4-acre parcel that is home to a glittering swimming pool and spa, an enormous patio, an outdoor kitchen, and a fire pit area.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

The 19-year-old Italian had not yet made a pit stop, while his rivals for victory McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Mercedes team-mate George Russell had, when Oliver Bearman's Haas crashed heavily.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

A new closed‑door hearing will now pit the parties' lawyers against each other.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Conductor Robert Spano ably managed the intricate ensembles, the opera’s relentless drive, and an orchestra pit so small that some players had to perform amplified from a separate room.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Mr. Peckleman stood next to the blazing fire pit, laughing hysterically.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• abyss
• crater
• mine
• shaft
• tomb
• trench