verb
whack
WAK
verb
1
To hit something hard and sharply.
"He whacked the vending machine when it ate his coins."
"She whacked the ball clean over the fence."
2
Slang: to kill someone, especially in criminal or mob contexts.
"In the film, the informant gets whacked before he can testify."
noun
1
A hard, sharp blow or the sound it makes.
"The bat connected with a satisfying whack."
2
Informal: a share or portion of something, especially money.
"Everyone in the crew got their whack once the job was done."
How to Use Whack
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo hit hard, or the hit itself; slang for a share of money or (criminal slang) to kill.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "wack," slang for something bad or lame — they're pronounced the same but mean different things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
whack someone
out of whack
take a whack at
Word Forms
whacked past tense, whacks plural, whacks singular
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He _____ the vending machine when it ate his coins.
Etymology
Origin uncertain, likely Scottish and probably imitative of the sound of a sharp blow — the source of the related word "thwack."