strike up

verb

struck up; struck up also stricken up; striking up; strikes up

intransitive verb

: to begin to sing or play or to be sung or played

transitive verb

1
: to cause to begin singing or playing
strike up the band
2
: to cause to begin
strike up a conversation

Examples of strike up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Kendi also struck up a partnership with The Boston Globe to revive The Emancipator, a storied abolitionist newspaper. Rachel Poser January Lavoy Krish Seenivasan David Mason, New York Times, 4 June 2024 After meeting in the sauna in their condo’s fitness center, the two strike up an easy and thoughtful rapport, bonding over the many intricacies of being a successful Black man in a white world. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 3 June 2024 Starring Hugh Grant as bookshop owner William Thacker and Julia Roberts as American movie star Anna Scott, the 1999 movie sees the pair strike up a conversation when Scott buys a book from Thacker’s shop. Erica Marrison, Peoplemag, 2 June 2024 Bolan struck up conversations — a practice honed waiting tables, pouring drinks and dogsitting — with ski bums and introverted scientists alike. Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 22 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for strike up 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'strike up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1562, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of strike up was circa 1562

Cite this Entry

“Strike up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strike%20up. Accessed 15 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

strike up

verb
1
: to begin or cause to begin to sing or play
strike up the band
2
: to cause to begin
strike up a conversation

More from Merriam-Webster on strike up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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