strike

STRYK/stɹaɪk/

Verbstrikes, striking, struck

Noun pluralstrikes

63 meanings of strike

Practice

1
hitverbtransitive
To hit someone or something hard, or to crash into them.
Like tapping a nail with a hammer, but harder.
The boxer struck his opponent on the jaw.
Try not to strike the ball too hard.
UsageSay struck for the past (not ~~incorrect: striked~~).
Similarhit
Note
2
work stoppagenouncountable
A protest in which a group of people stop working, or stop doing something else such as eating, to demand change.
Like everyone on a team sitting out the game until they are treated fairly.
The strike lasted nearly a month before both sides agreed.
Workers voted to begin a strike after talks broke down.
UsageSay go on strike and be on strike.
Similarwalkout
Oppositelockout
Note
3
stop workingverbtransitive or intransitive
To stop working on purpose, as a group, to demand better pay or conditions.
Like a whole team refusing to play until things get better.
The bus drivers chose to strike until they got safer hours.
The miners struck the company for three weeks.
UsagePeople strike for more pay. You can also say go on strike.
Note
4
military attacknouncountable
A sudden attack, which may or may not involve physical force.
Like a sudden hit you don't see coming.
The air strike destroyed the bridge before dawn.
Commanders ordered a strike on the enemy camp.
UsageOften air strike; a strike on a place.
Similarattack, raid, assault, offensive, bombardment
Note
5
give impressionverbtransitive
To give someone a certain feeling or impression.
Your idea strikes me as a little risky.
Does the plan strike you as fair?
UsageSay it strikes me as strange.
Similarimpress, seem, appear
Note
6
come suddenlyverbtransitive or intransitive
To suddenly affect someone with a strong feeling or thought.
Like a thought that pops into your head out of nowhere.
A sudden idea struck her in the middle of the night.
A strange impulse can strike you at the worst moment.
UsageOften struck dumb with surprise, or an idea struck me.
Similarhit, seize, grip, overtake, overcome
7
baseballnouncountable
In baseball, a pitch that counts against the batter, such as a missed swing.
The umpire called a strike on the inside pitch.
Two strikes and the batter looked nervous.
Oppositeball
Note
8
do sudden harmverbintransitive
To attack suddenly and without warning, as an animal, a criminal or an enemy might.
Like a snake that waits, then attacks in a flash.
The thieves struck while the family was away.
Predators often strike just before dawn.
UsageOften strike again: the thieves struck again.
Similarattack
9
aim a blowverbintransitive
To hit out at someone or something with a quick blow.
Like a spring that snaps out all at once.
The boxer struck quickly and stepped back.
Trained fighters strike without hesitation.
Similarattack, lunge, thrust, pounce
Note
10
physical hitnouncountable
A hard, sudden hit against something or someone.
Like a quick punch landing on a punching bag.
A single strike from the hammer split the rock.
The snake's strike was too fast to see.
Similarblow, hit, punch, knock, smack
Note
11
cross outverbtransitive
To remove words by crossing them out or deleting them.
Like erasing a word with a pencil eraser.
Please strike that sentence from your essay.
The teacher struck two words from the list.
UsageSay strike a name from a list.
Similardelete, remove, expunge, erase, scratch
Oppositeadd, insert, include
12
make a dealverbtransitive
To reach and agree on something, such as a deal.
Like shaking hands once you both say yes.
The two sides finally struck a deal after long talks.
They hope to strike an agreement before the deadline.
UsageSay strike a deal.
Similarreach, make, seal, clinch, conclude
13
sound the hourverbtransitive
To make a bell or clock sound, often to mark the time.
Like a bell ringing to tell you the time.
The clock struck noon as they arrived.
Bells strike the hour across the old town.
UsageSay the clock struck ten.
Similarchime, toll, sound, ring
Note
14
score a goalverbintransitive
In some sports, to score a goal against the other team.
Like putting the ball in the net to win a point.
He struck twice in the second half.
Our best player can strike from far outside the box.
UsageReports say a player struck twice.
Similarscore, net
Note
15
bring sufferingverbtransitive
To punish someone or make them suffer very badly.
In the story, the villagers feared that God would strike anyone who lied.
The flu struck half the class last winter.
UsagePeople often say someone was struck down by illness.
Similarafflict, hit, punish
16
rich findnouncountable
The finding of a supply of something, often oil in the ground.
After the gold strike, the quiet town filled with people hoping to get rich.
The oil strike on their land made the family rich almost overnight.
UsageSay an oil strike or a gold strike.
Similarfind, discovery
17
set offverbintransitive
To start walking or traveling, often in a certain direction.
Every summer the kids strike off into the woods to pick berries.
The two friends struck out along the beach toward the old lighthouse.
UsageSay strike out or strike off, and where you go.
Similarhead, start (entry)
18
cricketnoununcountable
In cricket, being the one of the two batsmen who faces the bowler.
She ran a quick single, so her partner got the strike.
The young player did not want the strike against such a fast bowler.
UsageSay keep the strike or take the strike.
Note
19
reach (senses)verbfigurativelytransitive
To reach and affect someone or something, like a sight that catches your eye.
Use colors that strike the eye when you make a poster.
A strange sound struck her ears in the middle of the night.
UsageSay something strikes your eye.
Similarhit, catch, befall
Note
20
verbtransitive
To make something appear by hitting, or to make it happen suddenly.
He struck sparks from a stone to light the fire.
A sudden shout can strike fear into a small child.
UsageSay something strikes fear into someone.
Note
21
black marknouncountable
One of a fixed number of official warnings, after which someone is punished.
Students who are late get a strike, and three strikes means detention.
Players who argue with the referee get a strike on their record.
Similarwarning
Note

Less common meanings

22
discover (mining)verbtransitive
To suddenly find a hidden supply of something, like gold or oil.
Like digging in the yard and hitting buried treasure.
The miners struck gold deep in the canyon.
If they strike oil here, the town will boom.
UsageSay strike gold or strike oil. Strike it rich means get rich fast.
Similardiscover, find, hit, uncover, locate
Note
23
bowlingnouncountable
In bowling, knocking down all ten pins with your first ball.
Like clearing the whole board in a single move.
She got a strike in the very first frame.
Three strikes in a row is called a turkey.
Note
24
light a matchverbtransitive
To light a match by rubbing it quickly against a rough surface.
Like rubbing two sticks together to make a spark.
She struck a match to light the candle.
You strike the match against the side of the box.
Similarlight, ignite
25
make coinsverbtransitive
To make coins or medals by pressing or stamping metal.
Like using a cookie cutter to press shapes out of dough.
The mint will strike new coins to mark the anniversary.
Workers strike each medal from a sheet of bronze.
Similarmint, stamp, coin
Note
26
fish bitenouncountable
A small bite or pull on the bait from a fish.
Like feeling a small tug when a fish tests your bait.
He felt a strike and pulled the rod up.
I felt a strike on my line just after sunrise.
Similarbite, nibble, tug, take, hit
Note
27
hook a fishverbtransitive
To hook a fish by quickly turning the wrist.
Like a quick flick of the wrist to set the hook in the fish.
She struck the trout the instant she felt a tug.
Strike the fish quickly or it will spit the hook.
Similarhook
Note
28
take apart (stage)verbtransitive
To take apart and carry away a stage set, tent, or similar setup.
Like packing up a tent and carrying it home after camping.
The crew will strike the tent after the festival.
Workers struck the booth once the fair ended.
Similardismantle, disassemble, clear, remove
Oppositeerect, assemble, pitch, build
Note
29
lower (flag)verbtransitive
To take down or lower a flag, sail, or mast.
Like pulling down a flag at the end of the day.
The sailors struck the flag at sunset.
Strike the sail before the storm hits.
Similarlower, drop
Oppositeraise, hoist
Note
30
drive intoverbtransitive
To push something sharp into a surface so that it goes in.
Like pushing a knife into butter.
She struck the spade into the soft earth.
He likes to strike his ax into the log when he is done chopping.
Similardrive, sink, plunge, thrust, ram
31
pass throughverbintransitive
To move or pass through quickly with a strong effect.
Like a beam of light shooting across a dark room.
A sharp pain struck through her arm.
Bright beams strike across the dark hall.
UsageSay strike through something.
Similarcut, shoot, flash, dart, knife
Note
32
noun
The set price at which the owner of an option can buy or sell.
33
noun
In geology, the compass direction of a level line drawn across a sloping layer of rock.
34
verbdated
Of a ship, to hit rocks or sand and get stuck.
35
verbobsoleteUK
To steal something.
Now we haue well bousd, let vs strike some chete.
1567, Thomas Harman, “The vpright Coſe cateth to the Roge. [The Upright Man speaketh to the Rogue.]”
36
verbarchaic
To ask someone to lend you money.
37
verb
To touch something.
38
verb
To give up in a fight by taking down your flag.
39
verbdated
To stop working at your job for good.
40
verb
To loosen or take off chains, ropes, or other things that tie someone up.
41
verbdated
To suddenly start doing something, like singing.
42
verb
Of baby oysters, to stick to something and stay there.
43
verb
To scrape a straight tool across a full container of grain or salt so the top is level.
44
verb
To smooth the mortar between bricks so it is flat with the wall.
45
verb
To suddenly find something.
46
verbobsolete
To scoop hot, thick sugar syrup out to cool.
47
verb
To touch something lightly, or to wave something.
48
verbobsolete
To be far along, like being old.
49
verb
To work out the final total of an account.
50
verbobsolete
Of food being cured, to take in as much salt as it can.
51
verbobsolete
Of a color, to spread or get lighter.
52
verbobsoleteUS
To carry out chores and errands as an army officer's servant.
53
noun
A unit once used in England for grain, holding one bushel.
The sum is also used for the quarter, and the strike for the bushel.
1882, James Edwin Thorold Rogers, A History of Agriculture and Prices in England
54
noun
The flat end of a hammer that you hit with.
55
noun
A straight-edged tool for scraping extra grain, salt, or the like off the top of a container.
56
nounobsolete
A full amount, or all that is made at once.
57
nounobsolete
Being very good.
58
noun
An upright iron bar in a fence or gate.
59
noun
A tool for stirring hot melted iron.
60
nounobsolete
Trying to get money from someone by threatening them.
61
noun
The metal plate on a door frame with a hole that the latch or bolt fits into.
62
noun
A mark put on a stamp so it cannot be used again.
63
noun
An unfinished mold used to make printing letters.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of strike apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English strīcan, going back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to stroke, rub, press."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Strike derives from Old English strīcan. en.wiktionary.org
The word ultimately derives from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to stroke, rub, press.” en.wiktionary.org