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.
have spiked
-
present perfectof spike.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
Because battles in Darfur and Kordofan have disrupted farming, prices of gum arabic along with other agricultural goods have spiked.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2026
Mentions of both Iran and oil on earnings calls have spiked since the beginning of March, according to transcripts tracked by FactSet.
From Barron's ● Apr. 21, 2026
But even as oil prices have spiked and stock prices come down, Treasurys, often seen as a haven during times of market unease, haven’t rallied on a continual basis.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 19, 2026
It would also somewhat reduce California’s gasoline prices, which have spiked to $5.52 a gallon versus an average of $3.72 a gallon nationwide.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 16, 2026
Ernest judiciously remarked, that they ought to have spiked collars, to defend them from any wild beasts they might encounter.
From The Swiss Family Robinson; or Adventures in a Desert Island by Johann David Wyss
