strike up
Britishverb
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(of a band, orchestra, etc) to begin to play or sing
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(tr) to bring about; cause to begin
to strike up a friendship
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(tr) to emboss (patterns, etc) on (metal)
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.
Shunned by neighbors who are certain they must have known about their husbands’ crimes, the three strike up a friendship as they struggle to find meaning in their new lives.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026
If you strike up a conversation, you'll often find someone has an interesting story.
From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026
Expect to see additional such markets in your news coverage as more outlets strike up deals.
From Slate • Dec. 10, 2025
We strike up a conversation about a Tom Petty book.
From Salon • Oct. 11, 2025
Meanwhile, the old man persisted in his attempt to strike up a conversation.
From "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
