WordGarden.iowhack
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /wˈæk/
US
- /ˈhwæk/
Meanings
Verb
to hit someone or something hard
(slang)to kill someone, especially in criminal slang
Noun
a hard hit or blow
Adjective
(slang)bad, strange, or ridiculous
Beyond the definition
"Whack" usually describes hitting something hard with a quick motion, like swinging a baseball bat or swatting a fly. It is not just any hit; it suggests a sharp, forceful impact. You might "whack" a pinata until the candy falls out, or "take a whack" at a difficult riddle, meaning you are giving it a try. Sometimes, you will hear that something is "out of whack," which means it is off, unbalanced, or not working the way it should. In some slang, especially in crime stories, "whack" can also mean to kill someone.
The word "whack" has a surprisingly versatile life! At its core, it describes a sharp, forceful blow delivered with a quick motion. Imagine the sound of a tennis racket connecting with a ball—that's a "whack." You might "whack" weeds in your garden or drive a nail into wood with a heavy "whack" of a hammer. The verb emphasizes both the speed and the power of the impact.
Beyond physical hits, "whack" appears in several common idioms. If you "take a whack" at something, you are giving it a try. On the flip side, if your computer or your back is "out of whack," it means things are out of alignment, not working right, or generally off. While the slang "wack" meaning "bad" or "uncool" is often spelled without the "h," the form with the "h" is the standard one in the phrase "out of whack."
Interestingly, "whack" has a darker history too. In criminal slang, particularly in mob movies and crime novels, "to whack" someone means to kill them. It's important to be aware of this context, though it's much less common in everyday polite conversation.
Finally, "whack" can even function as an interjection—a short exclamation used when delivering a hit or expressing a sudden impact. So, whether you're describing a powerful strike, trying your hand at a new hobby, or fixing something that's gone out of alignment, "whack" is a word that packs a punch in more ways than one!
Examples
- 1
Sports
He whacked the ball over the fence.
- 2
Fixing machines
She whacked the side of the printer, and it started working again.
- 3
Small hit
If the jar won’t open, give the lid a whack with a spoon.
- 4
Attempt
I took a whack at fixing the sink, but I only made it worse.
- Patterntake a whack at + task
try to do it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Disorganized
Ever since the move, my sleep schedule has been completely out of whack.
- Phraseout of whack
not working or organized as it should
- 6
Informal amount
The prices went up after the festival, so we paid a whole whack more for the hotel.
- Usagea whole whack more
much more; informal
- 7
Accidental hit
Be careful with that stick unless you want to whack someone in the face.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- whacknounverb
Forms
- whackedpast tenseverbnoun
- whacking-ing formverbnoun
- whackspluralnounverb