spike
noun
a naillike fastener, 3 to 12 inches (7.6 to 30.5 centimeters) long and proportionately thicker than a common nail, for fastening together heavy timbers or railroad track.
had spiked
-
past perfectof spike.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
By the time European Council leaders met again at the Space Egg in March, Trump’s airstrikes on Iran had spiked fuel prices across the continent and Chancellor Merz was furious.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
The rate of inflation had spiked to a 40-year high of 7.2% by mid-2022.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 23, 2026
Shares had spiked as much as 35% before the deal was confirmed.
From Barron's ● Dec. 29, 2025
Prices had spiked in recent days as concerns grew that Iran could disrupt global supplies by blockading the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil and gas.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2025
There was nothing apparently wrong with me except that my temperature had spiked.
From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi
