What it means
First, separate the dream from intention. The sleeping mind uses extreme images for feelings that, by day, come out quietly or not at all. Hitting someone tends to show built-up anger, frustration, or a need to stand up for yourself that never got said.
Who you were hitting is the main clue. With someone close, there may be tension between you, or something in them that reminds you of yourself. If it was a stranger, the target may be a situation more than a person: work, an injustice, a tiredness that drags on.
And how you felt while doing it changes the reading. Relief, rage, horror or guilt point to different places. It isn't unusual for this dream to come to someone who works hard all day at not showing anger.
Common variations
Hitting someone you love
Hurting someone you live with or care about stings in the dream and after you wake up. It often reflects anger or discomfort in that relationship that hasn't found words yet. Think about what you'd want to tell them, calmly and before it builds.
Hitting someone who hurt you
Finally hitting back at someone who hurt you often speaks to a wound asking to be repaired. The dream can give you a sense of justice you didn't find in daily life. More than revenge, it may show how much you need that harm to be acknowledged.
Hitting and not being able to stop
Hitting and hitting even though you want to stop can be very distressing. It may reflect anger that feels bigger than you, or dread of losing your grip in a tense situation. It's an invitation to find safe ways to release that energy: movement, words, a space to say it out loud.
Hitting a stranger
Hitting a stranger or someone with no face tends to speak to general frustration more than a conflict with one person: an unfair environment, demands that are too much, a day full of small annoyances that piled up.
Waking up actually hitting
If you woke up punching or kicking, or your partner tells you that you thrash around while dreaming, that's no longer just symbolic. It could be a sleep disorder that can be diagnosed and treated, so it's worth bringing up with a doctor.
What psychology says
There's one case where hitting in a dream reaches the body. In 1986, Carlos Schenck, Mark Mahowald and colleagues described REM sleep behavior disorder: during that stage, instead of the usual muscle relaxation, the person acts out what they're dreaming, sometimes with punches and kicks. It's seen mostly in older adults. If this happens to you, talk to a doctor or a sleep specialist.
In folklore
Some folk beliefs claim that hitting someone in a dream foretells arguments with that person. There's nothing behind it, and it's best taken neither as a warning nor as a reproach. What's worth keeping from the dream is the emotion it left, so you can find it an outlet that hurts neither you nor anyone else.
Frequently asked questions
Does dreaming that I hit someone mean I'm a violent person?
No. Dreaming about violence isn't wanting it, and it won't make you act on it. It usually shows anger, frustration or a need to set limits that goes unexpressed during the day.
What should I do if I actually hit or kick while dreaming?
If you punch or kick in your sleep, or someone tells you that you act out your dreams with your body, see a doctor: it may be a sleep disorder that can be evaluated and treated. In the meantime, move things you could hurt yourself on away from the bed.
Dreams are personal: these readings invite you to reflect, they don't decide for you. They are not medical or psychological advice. If you have frequent nightmares or sleep badly, see a professional.