hit the ground running

Meaning, Examples, Pronunciation
To “hit the ground running” means to start a new task or job with immediate energy and effectiveness — getting productive right away.

Watch how to use in real life

Watch native speakers using the expression "

hit the ground running

" in real life situations.

Meaning & Origin

“Hit the ground running” means to begin quickly and effectively — starting strong without a slow ramp‑up. The image suggests landing and moving at speed from the very first step.

Pronunciation Guide

  • hit — short “i,” like “sit.”
  • the — usually “thuh” before a consonant.
  • ground — sounds like “grownd.”
  • running — RUN‑ning; stress on the first syllable.
  • Natural rhythm: HIT the GROUND RUN‑ning.

Usage & Sentence Examples

Use it when someone starts a role, project, or activity at full speed.

  • We need a contractor who can hit the ground running.
  • She hit the ground running and finished the report by Tuesday.
  • With the kit packed, the team can hit the ground running at the event.
  • After rehab, he hit the ground running in training.
  • Let’s hit the ground running tomorrow with a prioritized task list.
  • New hires hit the ground running after orientation.

Synonyms

start fast · get off to a flying start · start strong · be up and running quickly · spring into action · hit the ground at full speed

Pronunciation test

1. Click Record and read the sentence
2. Pronounce AI scores your pronunciation and fluency

FAQ

Is “hit the ground running” formal or informal?
Neutral and common in business, sports, and everyday English. In very formal writing, use “begin productively at once” or “be immediately effective.”
Does it imply prior preparation?
Often — it suggests the person is ready to contribute from day one.
Can it be used negatively?
It’s typically positive, but you might say someone failed to hit the ground running if their start was slow.
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Iva Tania
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Alice Phyu
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The user experience is very good and the UI is visually appealing and intuitive.
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Cesar Cabrera
a five star review
This is amazing, it really helps to record your pronunciation and compare it to how you should pronounce.
A
Ahmed Elsayed
a five star review
A very good site, it helped me a lot to improve my english skills
M
Mikhail Polykovsky
a five star review
Great application for improving your pronounciation in English.
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Iva Tania
a five star review
This application is really cool and user-friendly for beginner.
A
Alice Phyu
a five star review
The user experience is very good and the UI is visually appealing and intuitive.
C
Cesar Cabrera
a five star review
This is amazing, it really helps to record your pronunciation and compare it to how you should pronounce.
A
Ahmed Elsayed
a five star review
A very good site, it helped me a lot to improve my english skills
M
Mikhail Polykovsky
a five star review
Great application for improving your pronounciation in English.
I
Iva Tania
a five star review
This application is really cool and user-friendly for beginner.
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Although I only tried the free version, it helps me a lot! I even recommend this website to others on my social media.
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Joshua Salazar
a five star review
I love this app. It helps me a lot to improve my pronunciation.
Z
Zuhaib Ashfaq
a five star review
The impressive thing about Pronounce is that it lets you communicate in a real-life scenario with an AI bot
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Maryam Reda
a five star review
I like this site because it helps me to know my mistakes in pronunciation.
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Damen A
a five star review
To be honest, my experience with Pronounce was incredible. Actually, I learned many things, and I advanced my pronunciation.
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Ms Elin
a five star review
Although I only tried the free version, it helps me a lot! I even recommend this website to others on my social media.
J
Joshua Salazar
a five star review
I love this app. It helps me a lot to improve my pronunciation.
Z
Zuhaib Ashfaq
a five star review
The impressive thing about Pronounce is that it lets you communicate in a real-life scenario with an AI bot
M
Maryam Reda
a five star review
I like this site because it helps me to know my mistakes in pronunciation.
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Damen A
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To be honest, my experience with Pronounce was incredible. Actually, I learned many things, and I advanced my pronunciation.

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