Top Definitions
Quizzes
Related Content
Vocab Builder
Examples
Explore Dictionary
British
Scientific
Cultural
Idioms And Phrases

strike

[ strahyk ]

/ straɪk /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR strike

verb (used with object), struck or (Obsolete) strook;struck or, especially for 31-34, strick·en or (Obsolete) strook;strik·ing.

to deal a blow or stroke to (a person or thing), as with the fist, a weapon, or a hammer; hit.

to inflict, deliver, or deal (a blow, stroke, attack, etc.).

to drive so as to cause impact: to strike the hands together.

to thrust forcibly: Brutus struck a dagger into the dying Caesar.

to produce (fire, sparks, light, etc.) by percussion, friction, etc.

to cause (a match) to ignite by friction.

(of some natural or supernatural agency) to smite or blast: Lightning struck the spire. May God strike you dead!

to come into forcible contact or collision with; hit into or against: The ship struck a rock.

to reach or fall upon (the senses), as light or sound: A shrill peal of bells struck their ears.

to enter the mind of; occur to: A happy thought struck him.

to catch or arrest (the sight, hearing, etc.): the first object that strikes one's eye.

to impress strongly: a picture that strikes one's fancy.

to impress in a particular manner: How does it strike you?

to come across, meet with, or encounter suddenly or unexpectedly: to strike the name of a friend in a newspaper.

to come upon or find (oil, ore, etc.) in drilling, prospecting, or the like.

to send down or put forth (a root), as a plant or cutting.

to arrive at or achieve by or as by balancing: to strike a balance; to strike a compromise.

to take apart or pull down (a structure or object, as a tent).

to remove from the stage (the scenery and properties of an act or scene): to strike a set.

Nautical.

to lower or take down (a sail, mast, etc.).
to lower (a sail, flag, etc.) as a salute or as a sign of surrender.
to lower (something) into the hold of a vessel by means of a rope and tackle.

Falconry. to loosen (a hood) from the head of a hawk so that it may be instantly removed.

Angling.

to hook (a fish that has taken the bait) by making a sharp jerk on the line.
(of a fish) to snatch at (the bait).

to harpoon (a whale).

(in technical use) to make level or smooth.

to make level or even, as a measure of grain or salt, by drawing a strickle across the top.

to efface, cancel, or cross out, with or as with the stroke of a pen (usually followed by out): to strike a passage out of a book.

to impress or stamp (a coin, medal, etc.) by printing or punching: to strike a medal in commemoration.

to remove or separate with or as if with a cut (usually followed by off): Illness struck him off from social contacts. The butcher struck off a chop.

Masonry. to finish (a mortar joint) with a stroke of the trowel.

to indicate (the hour of day) by a stroke or strokes, as a clock: to strike 12.

to afflict suddenly, as with disease, suffering, or death (often followed by down): The plague struck Europe. Apoplexy struck him down.

to overwhelm emotionally, as with terror or fear; affect deeply.

to make blind, dumb, etc., suddenly, as if by a blow.

to implant or induce (a feeling): to strike fear into a person.

to start or move suddenly into (vigorous movement): The horse struck a gallop.

to assume (an attitude or posture): He likes to strike a noble pose.

to cause (chill, warmth, etc.) to pass or penetrate quickly.

to come upon or reach in traveling or in a course of procedure: We struck Rome before dark.

to make, conclude, or ratify (an agreement, treaty, etc.).

to estimate or determine (a mean or average).

to leave off (work) or stop (working) as a coercive measure, or as at the close of the day.

(of a union or union member)

to declare or engage in a suspension of (work) until an employer grants certain demands, such as pay increases, an improved pension plan, etc.
to declare or engage in a suspension of work against (a factory, employer, industry, etc.) until certain demands are met.

to draw (a straight line); paint the edge of an area with (a regular, usually straight line).

Law. to choose (a jury) from a panel by striking off names until only the required number remains.

verb (used without object), struck or (Obsolete) strook,strik·ing.

to deal or aim a blow or stroke, as with the fist, a weapon, or a hammer.

to make an attack, especially a planned military assault: Our troops struck at dawn.

to knock, rap, or tap.

to hit or dash on or against something, as a moving body does; come into forcible contact; collide.

to run upon a bank, rock, or other obstacle, as a ship does.

to fall, as light or sound does (followed by on or upon).

to make an impression on the mind, senses, etc., as something seen or heard.

to come suddenly or unexpectedly (usually followed by on or upon): to strike on a new way of doing a thing.

to sound by percussion: The clock strikes.

to be indicated by or as by such percussion: The hour has struck.

to ignite or be ignited by friction, as a match.

to make a stroke, as with the arms or legs in swimming or with an oar in rowing.

to produce a sound, music, etc., by touching a string or playing upon an instrument.

to take root, as a slip of a plant.

to go, proceed, or advance, especially in a new direction: They struck out at dawn. They struck toward a new town.

U.S. Army. to act as a voluntary paid servant to a commissioned officer.
U.S. Navy. to work hard: strive (followed by for): He is striking for yeoman.

(of a union or union member) to engage in a suspension of work until an employer or industry meets certain demands.

Nautical.

to lower the flag or colors, especially as a salute or as a sign of surrender.
to run up the white flag of surrender.

Angling. (of fish) to swallow or take the bait.

noun

an act or instance of striking.

a concerted stopping of work or withdrawal of workers' services, as to compel an employer to accede to workers' demands or in protest against terms or conditions imposed by an employer.

a temporary stoppage of something.

Also called strike plate. a metal plate on a jamb holding the bolt of the lock on a door when closed.

Baseball.

a pitch that is swung at and missed by the batter.
a pitch that passes through the strike zone and is not swung at by the batter.
a foul tip caught by the catcher when there are already two strikes against the batter.
a foul bunt when there are already two strikes against the batter.
a ball hit foul and not caught on the fly when there are less than two strikes against the batter.

Bowling.

the knocking down of all of the pins with the first bowl.
the score so made.Compare spare (def. 22).

Horology. the striking mechanism of a timepiece.

Brewing. the degree of excellence or strength of beer, ale, etc.

Angling.

a sharp jerk on the line, made in order to set the hook in the mouth of the fish.
a pull on the line, made by the fish in the process of taking the bait.

Coining. a quantity of coins struck at one time.

Geology.

the direction of the line formed by the intersection of the bedding plane of a bed or stratum of sedimentary rock with a horizontal plane.
the direction or trend of a structural feature, as an anticlinal axis or the lineation resulting from metamorphism.

the discovery of a rich vein or ore in mining, of petroleum in boring, etc.

Military. a planned attack, especially by aircraft, on a target.

adjective

Military. describing a fighter-bomber aircraft designed to carry large payloads at high speeds and low altitudes and also to engage in air-to-air combat.

Verb Phrases

strike in, to interrupt suddenly; intervene: I struck in with a suggestion.

strike off,

Printing. to print: They struck off 300 copies of the book.
to remove or cancel, as from a record, list, etc.: His name was struck off the waiting list.
to produce rapidly and easily: She struck off several letters and had no more work to do.
to depart rapidly: We struck off for the country.

strike out,

Baseball. to put out or be put out by a strike-out: The pitcher walked two and struck out three. He struck out twice in three times at bat.
(of a person or effort) to fail: His next two business ventures struck out.
to lose favor.
to erase; cross out.
to set forth; venture forth: She struck out on her own at the age of 18.

strike up,

to begin to play or to sing: The orchestra struck up a waltz.
to set in operation; begin: Strike up the band!
to bring into being; commence; begin: to strike up an acquaintance with new neighbors.

QUIZZES

BECOME A PRO CHEF WITH THIS EXQUISITE CUISINE QUIZ!

Even if you can't be a professional chef, you can at least talk like one with this vocabulary quiz.

Question 1 of 9

You may have read the word "simmer" in a recipe or two, but what does it really mean?

To cook in water that begins cold and then reaches a boil.

To stew in a sauce for a long time.

To cook in water, just below boiling temperature.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for strike

have two strikes against one, to be in an unfavorable or a critical position: His age and his lack of education are two strikes against him in his search for a job.

on strike, engaged in a stoppage of work, services, or other activities, as by union workers to get better wages.

strike camp, to dismantle and pack up equipment; prepare to move on; break camp: The army struck camp and moved on.

strike hands, to conclude a bargain, as by shaking or joining hands; confirm an agreement: They reached a price satisfactory to both of them, and struck hands on it.

strike home,

to deal an effective blow, hit a vulnerable part, or wound critically or mortally: The second arrow struck home.
to have the intended effect; hit the mark: The sermon on Christian charity struck home.

strike it rich,

to come upon a valuable mineral or oil deposit.
to have sudden or unexpected financial success: She struck it rich in real estate.

strike oil. oil (def. 18).

Origin of strike

before 1000; 1768 for def. 65; (v.) Middle English striken to stroke, beat, cross out, Old English strīcan to stroke, make level; cognate with German streichen; (noun) Middle English: unit of dry measure (i.e., something leveled off; see strick), derivative of the v.; akin to streak, stroke¹

ANTONYMS FOR strike

1 miss.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR strike

synonym study for strike

1. Strike, hit, knock imply suddenly bringing one body in contact with another. Strike suggests such an action in a general way: to strike a child. Hit is less formal than strike, and often implies giving a single blow, but usually a strong one and definitely aimed: to hit a baseball. To knock is to strike, often with a tendency to displace the object struck; it also means to strike repeatedly: to knock someone down; to knock at a door. See also beat.

OTHER WORDS FROM strike

strikeless, adjectivean·ti·strike, adjectivenon·strike, adjectiveoutstrike, verb (used with object), out·struck, out·struck or out·strick·en, out·strik·ing.

post·strike, adjectivepre·strike, adjective, verb, pre·struck, pre·struck or pre·strick·en, pre·strik·ing.pro·strike, adjectiveun·der·strike, verb (used with object), un·der·struck, un·der·struck or un·der·strick·en, un·der·strik·ing.

Words nearby strike

strigiform, strigil, strigose, Strijdom, strikable, strike, strike a balance, strike a bargain, strike a chord, strike a happy medium, strike benefit

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

VOCAB BUILDER

What does strike mean?

Strike means to hit or deal a blow with a fist or object.

When you strike something, you are hitting it or impacting it with something, as in a boxer striking their opponent or a kid striking a piñata.

An object can also strike another object, like a meteor striking the ground.

A strike can also be the act of hitting or dealing a blow, as in The strike from the wrecking ball caused the entire wall to collapse.

Strike has many different meanings that often involve something coming into physical or metaphorical contact with something else. For example, you can get struck by lightning or a good idea might strike your mind.

Workers are said to strike or go on strike when they refuse to work until their demands are met. This kind of collective refusal by workers is called a strike.

Example: The boxer was known for striking his opponents just before the bell struck.

Where does strike come from?

The first records of strike come from before the year 1000. It comes from the Old English strīcan, meaning “to stroke” or “to make level.” The English words stroke and streak have similar origins.

The word strike has a lot of different uses and specific meanings as both a verb and a noun.

When a clock indicates a certain time, we say it strikes that time, as in The clock struck one. When you strike a note, you play it on an instrument or sing it. A prospector might strike gold or oil (find it after digging or drilling for it). A dancer might strike a pose (position themselves into it).

You are probably familiar with the strikes in baseball. When the batter fails to hit the ball when it’s in the strike zone, that’s a strike. When a batter misses three times, they’re out. And to have a strike against you is to have made a mistake or failed at something when you have a limited number of tries. A military attack can be called a strike, such as an air strike (an attack made by aircraft) or a drone strike (an attack made using drones).

These are just some examples of the many different meanings of strike. (Did we strike the right balance?)

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to strike?

struck (simple past tense verb)
stricken (perfect past tense verb)
strikeless (adjective)
antistrike (adjective)
nonstrike (adjective)
outstrike (verb)

What are some synonyms for strike?

What are some words that share a root or word element with strike?

What are some words that often get used in discussing strike?

How is strike used in real life?

Strike is a very commonly used word, particularly in its literal sense.

2 and 3 trains are resuming service north of 96 St after emergency teams assisted a person who was struck by a train at 125 St.

Expect extensive delays in both directions as service resumes.

— NYCT Subway. Wear a Mask. Fill out the Census. (@NYCTSubway) July 31, 2020

It's weird that people act like fighters know what they are doing after getting severely hurt by a strike to the head.

— campbecc (@campbecc234) November 7, 2017

i really like this image bc it's basically the 🙂 emoji, and it strikes me with fear pic.twitter.com/apyYudmY49

— shik 🎃 🦇 (@shikuuz) September 16, 2020

Try using strike!

Which of the following words is a synonym of strike?

A. hit
B. miss
C. create
D. make

Example sentences from the Web for strike

For months before the pandemic struck, I was commuting to work by foot.
Why I’m caving and finally buying an Apple Watch|rhhackettfortune|September 16, 2020|Fortune
One officer then discharged his service weapon, striking Chavez, who fell to the ground.
4 Houston Cops Who Shot And Killed Nicolas Chavez Fired|Hope Wright|September 11, 2020|Essence.com
After I spoke with Foxworth, the New York City teachers union decided to not strike, after the city agreed to delay in-person learning by 11 days.
Why Can’t Schools Get What the N.F.L. Has? (Ep. 431)|Stephen J. Dubner|September 10, 2020|Freakonomics
The last thing the Bucks can afford to do now is strike out looking.
The Bucks Played It Safe And Made The Wrong Kind Of History|Chris Herring (chris.herring@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 9, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

In 2017, when Hurricane Maria struck, his nonprofit organization Waves for Water went to work.
27 Epic Trips to Start Planning Now|The Editors|September 8, 2020|Outside Online
A senior Iranian official in Pakistan later confirmed the strike took place, declining to elaborate.
The Dangerous Drug-Funded Secret War Between Iran and Pakistan|Umar Farooq|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Saleem believes that the strike came from a nearby airbase across the Iranian border.
The Dangerous Drug-Funded Secret War Between Iran and Pakistan|Umar Farooq|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Kulahu strike was part of a widening covert war being waged by Iran inside Pakistan.
The Dangerous Drug-Funded Secret War Between Iran and Pakistan|Umar Farooq|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Choosing to strike while the iron was hot, Future announced his followup to Pluto, Future Hendrix, right away.
Future Makes Us Rethink Everything We Thought We Knew About Rap Artists|Luke Hopping|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He feared the police might go on strike and join the protestors.
The GOP and Police Unions: A Love Story|Eleanor Clift|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But we had again to assist the Continent to strike the fetters off.
A Soldier's Experience or A Voice from the Ranks: Showing the Cost of War in Blood and Treasure|Timothy Gowing
To his surprise Dr Plummer did not strike, but returned quietly to his desk.
Tom, Dick and Harry|Talbot Baines Reed
If any assailant strive to follow, strike him down without mercy.
The Lost Treasure of Trevlyn|Evelyn Everett-Green
Strike a light, one of you, and lay the blame on me if Miss Ladd finds us out.
I Say No|Wilkie Collins
The wedge point may not strike back at the hammer that drives it.
The Last Shot|Frederick Palmer

British Dictionary definitions for strike

strike

/ (straɪk) /

verb strikes, striking or struck

to deliver (a blow or stroke) to (a person)

to come or cause to come into sudden or violent contact (with)

(tr) to make an attack on

to produce (fire, sparks, etc) or (of fire, sparks, etc) to be produced by ignition

to cause (a match) to light by friction or (of a match) to be lighted

to press (the key of a piano, organ, etc) or to sound (a specific note) in this or a similar way

to indicate (a specific time) by the sound of a hammer striking a bell or by any other percussive sound

(of a venomous snake) to cause injury by biting

(tr) to affect or cause to affect deeply, suddenly, or radically, as if by dealing a blowher appearance struck him as strange; I was struck on his art

past participle struck or stricken (tr; passive usually foll by with) to render incapable or nearly soshe was stricken with grief

(tr) to enter the mind ofit struck me that he had become very quiet

past participle struck or stricken to renderI was struck dumb

(tr) to be perceived by; catchthe glint of metal struck his eye

to arrive at or come upon (something), esp suddenly or unexpectedlyto strike the path for home; to strike upon a solution

(intr sometimes foll by out) to set (out) or proceed, esp upon a new courseto strike for the coast

(tr; usually passive) to afflict with a disease, esp unexpectedlyhe was struck with polio when he was six

(tr) to discover or come upon a source of (ore, petroleum, etc)

(tr) (of a plant) to produce or send down (a root or roots)

(tr) to take apart or pack up; break (esp in the phrase strike camp)

(tr) to take down or dismantle (a stage set, formwork, etc)

(tr) nautical

to lower or remove (a specified piece of gear)
to haul down or dip (a flag, sail, etc) in salute or in surrender
to lower (cargo, etc) into the hold of a ship

to attack (an objective) with the intention of causing damage to, seizing, or destroying it

to impale the hook in the mouth of (a fish) by suddenly tightening or jerking the line after the bait or fly has been taken

(tr) to form or impress (a coin, metal, etc) by or as if by stamping

to level (a surface) by use of a flat board

(tr) to assume or take up (an attitude, posture, etc)

(intr) (of workers in a factory, etc) to cease work collectively as a protest against working conditions, low pay, etc

(tr) to reach by agreementto strike a bargain

(tr) to form (a jury, esp a special jury) by cancelling certain names among those nominated for jury service until only the requisite number remainsSee also special jury

(tr) rowing to make (a certain number of strokes) per minuteOxford were striking 38

to make a stroke or kick in swimming

(tr) (in Malaysia) to win (a lottery or raffle)

strike home

to deliver an effective blow
to achieve the intended effect

strike it lucky or strike lucky to have some good luck

strike it rich informal

to discover an extensive deposit of a mineral, petroleum, etc
to have an unexpected financial success

noun

an act or instance of striking

a cessation of work by workers in a factory, industry, etc, as a protest against working conditions or low paythe workers are on strike again

a military attack, esp an air attack on a surface targetair strike

baseball a pitched ball judged good but missed or not swung at, three of which cause a batter to be out

Also called: ten-strike tenpin bowling

the act or an instance of knocking down all the pins with the first bowl of a single frame
the score thus madeCompare spare (def. 17)

a sound made by striking

the mechanism that makes a clock strike

the discovery of a source of ore, petroleum, etc

the horizontal direction of a fault, rock stratum, etc, which is perpendicular to the direction of the dip

angling the act or an instance of striking

the number of coins or medals made at one time

another name for strickle (def. 1)

informal an unexpected or complete success, esp one that brings financial gain

take strike cricket (of a batsman) to prepare to play a ball delivered by the bowler

Derived forms of strike

strikeless, adjective

Word Origin for strike

Old English strīcan; related to Old Frisian strīka to stroke, Old High German strīhhan to smooth, Latin stria furrow

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for strike

strike

[ strīk ]

The course or bearing of a structural surface, such as an inclined bed or a fault plane, as it intersects a horizontal plane. See illustration at dip.

Cultural definitions for strike

strike

A concerted refusal by employees in a particular business or industry to work. Its goal is usually to force employers to meet demands respecting wages and other working conditions.

Idioms and Phrases with strike

strike

In addition to the idioms beginning with strike

strike a balance
strike a bargain
strike a chord
strike a happy medium
strike down
strike it rich
strike out
strike the right note
strike while the iron is hot

also see:

go out (on strike)
happy medium, strike a
lightning never strikes twice
on strike
two strikes against

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

strike

verb (used with object), struck or (Obsolete) strook;struck or, especially for 31-34, strick·en or (Obsolete) strook;strik·ing.

verb (used without object), struck or (Obsolete) strook,strik·ing.