pit

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
a(1)
: a hole, shaft, or cavity in the ground
(2)
: mine
(3)
: a scooped-out place used for burning something (such as charcoal)
b
: an area often sunken or depressed below the adjacent floor area: such as
(1)
: an enclosure in which animals are made to fight each other
(2)
: a space at the front of a theater for the orchestra
(3)
: an area in a securities or commodities exchange in which members trade (such as stocks)
2
a
: hell sense 1a
used with the
b
: a place or situation of futility, misery, or degradation
c
pits plural : worst
it's the pits
3
: a hollow or indentation especially in the surface of an organism: such as
a
: a natural hollow in the surface of the body
b
: one of the indented scars left in the skin by a pustular disease : pockmark
c
: a minute depression in the secondary wall of a plant cell functioning in the intercellular movement of water and dissolved material
4
: any of the areas alongside an auto racecourse used for refueling and repairing the cars during a race
often used in plural with the

pit

2 of 4

verb (1)

pitted; pitting

transitive verb

1
a
: to place, cast, bury, or store in a pit
b
: to make pits in
especially : to scar or mark with pits
2
a
: to set (fighting birds, such as gamecocks) into or as if into a pit to fight
b
: to set into opposition or rivalry
usually used with against

intransitive verb

1
: to become marked with pits
especially : to preserve for a time an indentation made by pressure
2
: to make a pit stop

pit

3 of 4

noun (2)

: the stone of a drupaceous fruit

pit

4 of 4

verb (2)

pitted; pitting

transitive verb

: to remove the pit from (a fruit)

Examples of pit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Photo : Ana Lucía Rodríguez/Costa Rica Sotheby’s International Realty The pool and fire pit overlook the Pacific Ocean. Mark David, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024 This fire pit has a ceramic tile top, fire glass, and a metal lid, providing a versatile centerpiece for your outdoor space that works as a table when the fire isn’t lit. Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2024 The nominations pit two of last year’s highest-grossing films against each other. Thomas Buckley, Fortune, 10 Mar. 2024 For thousands of years, humans have dug deep into the Earth in search of diamonds, creating some of the world’s largest manmade pits in Russia and South Africa that descend as much as 625 meters (2,050 feet) below the ground. Ana De Oliva, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024 The guest houses sit around an outdoor area with a pool and fire pit, and large porches are meant for gathering. Stacey Leasca, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2024 Most of the Cup drivers expressed their happiness for Suarez’s victory on pit road. Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2024 Sintered stone, like their product Dekton, is already being used to clad surfaces inside the home and now it’s being applied to exterior pavers, facades, patios, and even fire pits, Ramos says. Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Feb. 2024 The space contains large televisions, indoor dining seats for around 50 people, a patio that wraps around part of the building and a fire pit. Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024
Verb
Led by coach Bryce Drew, Grand Canyon will pit its potent offense (79.8 points per game) against a Saint Mary’s defense (58.7 points allowed) that ranks second nationally. Jeff Faraudo, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024 The proxy battle has pitted him against Disney’s chief executive, Robert A. Iger, one of the media industry’s most powerful executives and someone Mr. Peltz once considered a good friend. Lauren Hirsch, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024 The issue has pitted businesses and unions against each other in court battles around the world. Max Ramsay, Fortune Europe, 12 Mar. 2024 For opponents of the measures, who sought to convince their right-leaning hometown that its leadership had gone too far, the results were a bitter end to a discordant campaign that pitted neighbors against each other and had both sides harking back to a time when city politics wasn’t so acerbic. Reis Thebault, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Stapleton returned to Detroit and won election in 2010 to the state House, serving for one term before losing to Rashida Tlaib in a 2012 primary that followed a redistricting that pitted the two incumbents against each other. Detroit Free Press, 29 Feb. 2024 This set the stage for a series of family squabbles that pitted him against his siblings and mother and culminated in 1994 when Abilio purchased most of their shares and became the majority owner. Fabiola Moura, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2024 Democrat and Republican will be trying to pit Americans against ourselves for the power of a party, for the power of a person, for the power of an agenda. Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2024 Milwaukee comptroller race pits deputy comptroller against former firefighter union president The comptroller is the city's chief financial officer. Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English pytt (akin to Old High German pfuzzi well), from Latin puteus well, pit

Noun (2)

Dutch, from Middle Dutch — more at pith

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1803, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pit was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near pit

Cite this Entry

“Pit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pit. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pit

1 of 4 noun
1
: a hole, shaft, or cavity in the ground
a gravel pit
2
: an area set off from and often sunken below neighboring areas: as
a
: an enclosure where animals (as cocks) are set to fight
b
: the space occupied by an orchestra in a theater
3
a
: a hollowed or indented area especially in the surface of the body
the pit of the stomach
b
: an indented scar (as from a boil)
4
plural : worst entry 3 sense 1
it's the pits
5
: any of the areas alongside an auto racetrack used for servicing cars during a race
often used in plural with the

pit

2 of 4 verb
pitted; pitting
1
a
: to put into or store in a pit
b
: to make pits in
especially : to scar with pits
2
: to set against another in a fight or contest
pitted the courageous fighter against the champion
3
: to become marked with pits

pit

3 of 4 noun
: the stone of a fruit (as the cherry or peach) that is a drupe

pit

4 of 4 verb
pitted; pitting
: to remove the pit from
pitted dates
Etymology

Noun

Old English pytt "pit, hole in the ground"

Noun

from Dutch pit "the seed-containing stone of a fruit"

Medical Definition

pit

1 of 2 noun
: a hollow or indentation especially in a surface of an organism: as
a
: a natural hollow in the surface of the body
b
: one of the indented scars left in the skin by a pustular disease : pockmark
c
: a usually developmental imperfection in the enamel of a tooth that takes the form of a small pointed depression

pit

2 of 2 verb
pitted; pitting

transitive verb

: to make pits in
especially : to scar or mark with pits
a face pitted by acne

intransitive verb

: to become marked with pits
especially : to preserve for a time an indentation made by pressure
a swollen area on the gingiva which pits readily A. B. Wade

Geographical Definition

Pit

geographical name

river in northern California flowing southwest into the Sacramento River

More from Merriam-Webster on pit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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