Synonyms

strike

American

[strahyk] / straɪk /

verb (used with object)

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

Antonyms:

miss
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.
1. to lower or take down (a sail, mast, etc.).
2. to lower (a sail, flag, etc.) as a salute or as a sign of surrender.
3. 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.
1. to hook (a fish that has taken the bait) by making a sharp jerk on the line.
2. (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 byout ).

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 byoff ).

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 bydown ).

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)
1. to declare or engage in a suspension of (work) until an employer grants certain demands, such as pay increases, an improved pension plan, etc.
2. 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)

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 orupon ).
to make an impression on the mind, senses, etc., as something seen or heard.
to come suddenly or unexpectedly (usually followed by on orupon ).

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.
1. U.S. Army. to act as a voluntary paid servant to a commissioned officer.
2. U.S. Navy. to work hard: strive (followed byfor ).
  
  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.
1. to lower the flag or colors, especially as a salute or as a sign of surrender.
2. 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.
1. a pitch that is swung at and missed by the batter.
2. a pitch that passes through the strike zone and is not swung at by the batter.
3. a foul tip caught by the catcher when there are already two strikes against the batter.
4. a foul bunt when there are already two strikes against the batter.
5. a ball hit foul and not caught on the fly when there are less than two strikes against the batter.
Bowling.
1. the knocking down of all of the pins with the first bowl.
2. the score so made.
Horology. the striking mechanism of a timepiece.
Brewing. the degree of excellence or strength of beer, ale, etc.
Angling.
1. a sharp jerk on the line, made in order to set the hook in the mouth of the fish.
2. 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.
1. 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.
2. 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 phrase

strike off
1. Printing. to print.
  
  They struck off 300 copies of the book.
2. to remove or cancel, as from a record, list, etc..
  
  His name was struck off the waiting list.
3. to produce rapidly and easily.
  
  She struck off several letters and had no more work to do.
4. to depart rapidly.
  
  We struck off for the country.
strike in to interrupt suddenly; intervene.

I struck in with a suggestion.
strike up
1. to begin to play or to sing.
  
  The orchestra struck up a waltz.
2. to set in operation; begin.
  
  Strike up the band!
3. to bring into being; commence; begin.
  
  to strike up an acquaintance with new neighbors.
strike out
1. 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.
2. (of a person or effort) to fail.
  
  His next two business ventures struck out.
3. to lose favor.
4. to erase; cross out.
5. to set forth; venture forth.
  
  She struck out on her own at the age of 18.

idioms

strike oil. oil.
strike home,
1. to deal an effective blow, hit a vulnerable part, or wound critically or mortally.
  
  The second arrow struck home.
2. to have the intended effect; hit the mark.
  
  The sermon on Christian charity struck home.
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 it rich,
1. to come upon a valuable mineral or oil deposit.
2. to have sudden or unexpected financial success.
  
  She struck it rich in real estate.
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.
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.

strike British

/ straɪk /

verb

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 blow

her appearance struck him as strange
I was struck on his art
to render incapable or nearly so

she was stricken with grief
(tr) to enter the mind of

it struck me that he had become very quiet
to render

I was struck dumb
(tr) to be perceived by; catch

the glint of metal struck his eye
to arrive at or come upon (something), esp suddenly or unexpectedly

to strike the path for home
to strike upon a solution
to set (out) or proceed, esp upon a new course

to strike for the coast
(tr; usually passive) to afflict with a disease, esp unexpectedly

he 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
1. to lower or remove (a specified piece of gear)
2. to haul down or dip (a flag, sail, etc) in salute or in surrender
3. 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 agreement

to 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 remains See also special jury
(tr) rowing to make (a certain number of strokes) per minute

Oxford were striking 38
to make a stroke or kick in swimming
(tr) (in Malaysia) to win (a lottery or raffle)
1. to deliver an effective blow
2. to achieve the intended effect
to have some good luck
informal
1. to discover an extensive deposit of a mineral, petroleum, etc
2. to have an unexpected financial success

"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

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 pay

the workers are on strike again
a military attack, esp an air attack on a surface target

air 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
1. the act or an instance of knocking down all the pins with the first bowl of a single frame
2. the score thus made Compare spare
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
informal an unexpected or complete success, esp one that brings financial gain
cricket (of a batsman) to prepare to play a ball delivered by the bowler

"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

strike Scientific

/ 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

strike Cultural

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.

strike More Idioms

More idioms and phrases containing strike

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

Usage

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.

Synonym Usage

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 Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

strikes

plural

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of strike

First recorded before 1000; 1760–70 strike for def. 65; (for the verb) Middle English striken “to stroke, beat, cross out,” Old English strīcan “to stroke, make level”; cognate with German streichen; (for the noun) Middle English: “unit of dry measure” (i.e., “something leveled off”; see strick), derivative of the verb; akin to streak, stroke ¹

Explanation

At its most basic, strike means to hit. If you strike someone, you hit them with your hand or a weapon. If lightning strikes, it makes contact. If you strike out on a trip, you're "hitting" the road. If you strike gold, you've "struck it rich"! Strike can also mean not to hit, as in miss –– as in "three strikes and you're out." That meaning might have evolved from strike meaning to cross off, as in "If you don't come to practice, coach will strike your name from the starting lineup." It might also have led to the idea of a labor strike. If employees want to protest their work conditions, they go on strike, or refuse to work until conditions improve.

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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.

See Examples For:

strike strikes strook struck stricken striking

A Conservative Party spokesperson called for WCC to strike a balance between the night-time economy and concerns from neighbours.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

“We have everything required to strike at the time and place of the President’s choosing,” Parnell said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

We are using a “standard” rolling procedure for our SPY spreads: In any vertical bull or bear spread, if the underlying hits the short strike, then roll the entire spread.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

Yan had given up two singles and a walk to load the bases before getting Cleveland designated hitter Chase DeLauter on a 90-mph slider for strike three and the second out of the inning.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

Chase began to get a strange feeling about Emily and wondered if this was what his dad experienced when he made his predictions, or what a lightning rod felt just before a strike.

From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith

So light up that candle, lock the doors and bring the tissues if you have to — just don’t be ashamed to feel all the feels, or shake your booty if the mood strikes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

"Not a single blow is random," he explains as a trio of craftsmen land expert strikes that create the darker more complex tones so prized by jazz drummers.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

A senior Lebanese official said the strikes added awkward complications to the seventh round of U.S.-brokered talks between Israeli and Lebanese diplomats in Rome.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

The official did not specify what had been targeted but Ukraine has been carrying out strikes on facilities operated by Wildberries in recent weeks, often dubbed the "Russian Amazon".

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

The short response strikes me as odd, because on any other day I couldn’t pay Sofia to keep her mouth shut.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

"Ye'll have to plug and desthroy the schamin' divvle that strook poor Patsy Flannigan, Matty," said the Irishman.

From Snake and Sword A Novel by Wren, Percival Christopher

Sabinus here we met, hurried to fetters: The senators all strook with fear and silence, Save those whose hopes depend not on good means, But force their private prey from public spoil.

From Sejanus: His Fall by Jonson, Ben

And thou wert the kindest man that ever strook with sword; and thou wert the goodliest person that ever came among the presse of knights.

From Bracebridge Hall, or The Humorists by Irving, Washington

When such music sweet Their hearts and ears did greet, As never was by mortal finger strook; Divinely-warbled voice Answering the stringed noise, As all their souls in blissful rapture took.

From The Hundred Best English Poems by Gowans, Adam L. (Adam Luke)

In first place, body on its outer parts— Since these are touched by neighbouring aery gusts— Must there be thumped and strook by blows of air Repeatedly.

From On the Nature of Things by Leonard, William Ellery

A few minutes after I met Aunt Bill for the first time, she said something that struck me funny.

From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2026

Rocket debris struck the Moon at around 06:35 GMT on Wednesday, according to the South Korean space agency.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

But officials have stayed mute about the number of missing people since the twin tremors struck on June 24.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

Disney struck a deal letting creators use clips from its movies in their videos on TikTok, which will also show up on Disney+.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

And then it struck me—I was by a lake!

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

The delay could make it more difficult for ill people to remember all the foods they ate, “down to a single ingredient in a salad,” before they were stricken, Rimoin said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

After the jury foreman, when asked “How say you?” answered “Guilty,” 34 times, Trump turned to face the back of the room, looking uncharacteristically stricken.

From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026

"The doctors tried to help her but she died," her stricken grandmother says the next day.

From BBC ● May 18, 2026

The version detected aboard the stricken Hondius ship was a rare strain known as the Andes virus, which can be transmitted between humans.

From Barron's ● May 7, 2026

I ask her, pleased by her stricken look.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

“This makes the 10% loss look even more striking and suggests that like Situational Awareness, several other TMT Equity Sector hedge funds suffered from forced liquidations of memory stock exposures,” they said.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

But the largest reminder of his legacy are his children, Chris Candy and Jennifer Candy-Sullivan, who not only bear a striking resemblance to their parents, but also exude their warmth and spirit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

One of the most striking discoveries came when the black hole launched a powerful jet.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 31, 2026

One of those players is Rodri, who warned in 2024 that footballers were "close" to striking because of workload concerns.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

As I was about to say more, from behind me came the harsh rap of a cane striking the floor.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

strike

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

adjective

verb phrase

idioms

verb

noun

More idioms and phrases containing strike

Usage

Synonym Usage

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of strike

Explanation

Vocabulary lists containing strike

Baseball: A Lexicon

The Industrial Revolution - Introductory

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Related Words