I almost hit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I almost hit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a near miss or close encounter, often in the context of driving or physical actions. Example: "I almost hit the brakes too late when the car in front of me suddenly stopped."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

"I almost hit it".

The New York Times - Travel

I almost hit a deer this summer.

The New York Times

"I almost hit a dozen deer," Violet said.

The New Yorker

I got so angry I almost hit him".

The New York Times

The Betty slowed up so much I almost hit it.

The New York Times

A few times, I almost hit 55 m.p.h.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"I kind of felt my blade hit his skate, it almost hit him in the skin area there," Muzzin said.

Los Angeles Times

If I stood up and threw this coffee cup hard, I could almost hit the shrine over the cave where John wrote the Book of Revelation.

The New Yorker

I'd almost hit a wall.

The Guardian - Sport

It seems as though, every day, I'm almost hit by a bike.

The New York Times

Was so discombobulated that I was almost hit by an Oncoming Automobile emoji.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I almost hit" in narratives or personal anecdotes to add tension and illustrate close calls or mistakes.

Common error

Avoid passive constructions like "I almost was hit" if you mean you were the active agent who nearly caused the impact. Use "I almost hit" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I almost hit" typically functions as a declarative statement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. The phrase serves to report an action that was narrowly avoided.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I almost hit" is a grammatically sound and common expression used to describe a near miss or close call, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its primary function is to convey that an action was narrowly avoided. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts with a neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the intended meaning and consider alternative phrasings for nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I nearly collided with

Emphasizes the potential for a collision.

I came close to hitting

Highlights the proximity of the action.

I narrowly avoided hitting

Stresses the successful avoidance of impact.

I just missed hitting

Indicates a very close margin.

I was on the verge of hitting

Focuses on the imminence of the event.

I practically hit

Emphasizes how close the event was to occur.

I skirted disaster by almost hitting

Adds drama by describing a disaster being avoided.

I was within an inch of hitting

Uses a specific measurement to convey proximity.

I had a near miss with

Uses an idiomatic expression for close calls.

I could have hit

Implies that it could happened if things went slightly different.

FAQs

What does "I almost hit" mean?

The phrase "I almost hit" means that you came very close to striking something or someone but ultimately did not make contact. It implies a near miss or close call.

What can I say instead of "I almost hit"?

You can use alternatives like "I nearly collided with", "I came close to hitting", or "I narrowly avoided hitting" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I almost was hit" instead of "I almost hit"?

No, "I almost was hit" implies someone else nearly hit you. "I almost hit" means you nearly hit something else. They have opposite meanings.

How can I use "I almost hit" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a near accident, such as, "I was driving in the rain and "I almost hit" a pedestrian who ran across the street" or to explain you almost did something, such as "I got so angry "I almost hit" him".