1
: a line or mark of a different color or texture from the ground : stripe
2
a
: the color of the fine powder of a mineral obtained by scratching or rubbing against a hard white surface and constituting an important distinguishing character
b
: inoculum implanted in a line on a solid medium
c
: any of numerous virus diseases of plants (such as tobacco and corn) resembling mosaic but usually producing at least some linear markings
3
a
: a narrow band of light
b
: a lightning bolt
4
a
: a slight admixture : trace
had a mean streak in him
b
: a brief run (as of luck)
c
: a consecutive series
was on a winning streak
5
: a narrow layer (as of fat)
6
: an act or instance of streaking
streaked; streaking; streaks
: to make streaks on or in
tears streaking her face
1
: to move swiftly : rush
a jet streaking across the sky
2
: to have a streak (as of winning or outstanding performances)
3
: to run naked through a public place
streaker
noun
Examples of streak in a Sentence
Noun
He left streaks where he wiped the glass.
The miners had streaks of coal dust on their faces.
a streak of 11 straight victories
Verb
A shooting star streaked across the sky.
A skateboarder streaked past us.
Recent Examples on the Web
Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Sabonis has posted 59 consecutive double-doubles, the longest single-season streak since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024
Last September 2, Central’s 26-game winning streak was snapped by Bishop Gorman.
—Susan Miller Degnan, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
In those years, head coach Geno Auriemma led the Huskies to four consecutive NCAA championships and a 111-game winning streak that spanned multiple entire seasons.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 2 Apr. 2024
The Wildcats have lost six consecutive tournament games to teams seeded at least four spots lower — the longest such streak in tournament history, according to Stats Perform.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
The winning streak began just before 9:30 p.m. local time and ended just before 12:30 a.m.
Caesars Entertainment declined further comment.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
With the win, the Wolfpack extended their winning streak to eight games and have advanced to the program’s first Elite Eight since 1986.
—Jacob Lev, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
The state has added more than 3 million jobs since then, a remarkable streak that averaged just over 66,000 new jobs per month, according to the state Employment Development Department.
—Adam Beam, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2024
Julia Daye, Sacramento Bee, 2 Apr. 2024
Earlier this month, flames from the engine of a Boeing 737-900, operated by United Airlines, streaked the sky; a tire fell off another Boeing plane operated by United; and a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operated by Latam Airlines, injured dozens after suddenly dropping mid-flight.
—Sunny Nagpaul, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
And by the time flashing lights streaked by in full darkness, the delta between Lambo’s fastest lap and the now-leading Acura’s dropped to only 0.4 seconds—which Mohr views as an incredible feat for the team, and inspiration to keep working hard to improve the SC63’s potential.
—Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024
The biggest play came on a first down and was a 20-yard pass to tight end Dalton Kincaid, who had streaked across the field.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2024
Closing out a six-month stay at the International Space Station, a three-man, one-woman crew plunged back to Earth early Tuesday, streaking across the heartland of America like a blazing meteor as their Crew Dragon capsule descended to a Gulf of Mexico splashdown.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024
In response, angry residents launched a sit-in at a clock tower; regime soldiers massacred them, leaving the asphalt streaked with blood.
—Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
And the muscle that goes first tends to be low quality and streaked with fat.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2024
Cena and Jimmy Kimmel paid tribute to the man who streaked at the 1974 Oscars.
—Dustin Nelson, EW.com, 11 Mar. 2024
Noun
That rate has now come in below 4% for 26 straight months, the longest such streak since the 1960s.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Sabonis has posted 59 consecutive double-doubles, the longest single-season streak since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024
Last September 2, Central’s 26-game winning streak was snapped by Bishop Gorman.
—Susan Miller Degnan, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
In those years, head coach Geno Auriemma led the Huskies to four consecutive NCAA championships and a 111-game winning streak that spanned multiple entire seasons.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 2 Apr. 2024
The Wildcats have lost six consecutive tournament games to teams seeded at least four spots lower — the longest such streak in tournament history, according to Stats Perform.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
The winning streak began just before 9:30 p.m. local time and ended just before 12:30 a.m.
Caesars Entertainment declined further comment.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
With the win, the Wolfpack extended their winning streak to eight games and have advanced to the program’s first Elite Eight since 1986.
—Jacob Lev, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
The state has added more than 3 million jobs since then, a remarkable streak that averaged just over 66,000 new jobs per month, according to the state Employment Development Department.
—Adam Beam, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2024
Verb
Bright gold lights streaked across the black, like luminescent paint.
—Julia Daye, Sacramento Bee, 2 Apr. 2024
Earlier this month, flames from the engine of a Boeing 737-900, operated by United Airlines, streaked the sky; a tire fell off another Boeing plane operated by United; and a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operated by Latam Airlines, injured dozens after suddenly dropping mid-flight.
—Sunny Nagpaul, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
And by the time flashing lights streaked by in full darkness, the delta between Lambo’s fastest lap and the now-leading Acura’s dropped to only 0.4 seconds—which Mohr views as an incredible feat for the team, and inspiration to keep working hard to improve the SC63’s potential.
—Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024
The biggest play came on a first down and was a 20-yard pass to tight end Dalton Kincaid, who had streaked across the field.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2024
Closing out a six-month stay at the International Space Station, a three-man, one-woman crew plunged back to Earth early Tuesday, streaking across the heartland of America like a blazing meteor as their Crew Dragon capsule descended to a Gulf of Mexico splashdown.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024
In response, angry residents launched a sit-in at a clock tower; regime soldiers massacred them, leaving the asphalt streaked with blood.
—Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
And the muscle that goes first tends to be low quality and streaked with fat.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2024
Cena and Jimmy Kimmel paid tribute to the man who streaked at the 1974 Oscars.
—Dustin Nelson, EW.com, 11 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'streak.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near streak
Cite this Entry
“Streak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/streak. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
streak
1 of 2 noun1
: a line or mark of a different color or texture from its background : stripe
2
: the color of the fine powder of a mineral obtained by scratching or rubbing against a hard white surface
3
a
: a narrow band of light
b
: a lightning bolt
4
5
: a narrow layer
a streak of fat in bacon
streak
2 of 2 verb1
: to make or have streaks on or in
2
: to move swiftly : rush
a jet streaking across the sky
Medical Definition
streak
1 of 2 noun1
: a usually irregular line or stripe see primitive streak
2
: inoculum implanted (as with a needle drawn across the surface) in a line on a solid medium
streak
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to implant (inoculum) in a line on a solid medium
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