1
: a line or mark of a different color or texture from the background : stripe
2
a
: a narrow band of light
the first stripes of dawn
b
: a lightning bolt
3
a
: a quality that is noticeable especially because it is different from other qualities
had a mean streak in him
b
: a brief run (as of luck)
c
: a consecutive series
was on a winning streak
4
: a narrow layer (as of ore or fat)
5
: an act or instance of streaking
6
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 characteristic
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
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
Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2026
The Falcons could snap their streak of eight straight losing seasons and even earn a playoff spot in an NFC South without a prohibitive favorite, but this offseason was mostly about re-establishing a foundation.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
The black-and-white security video shows a figure approaching a runway and starting to cross it, seemingly at walking pace, when the aircraft streaks into view.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for streak
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Ohtani took batting practice before the game, but the Dodgers star’s hitless streak grew to five games.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2026
The Falcons could snap their streak of eight straight losing seasons and even earn a playoff spot in an NFC South without a prohibitive favorite, but this offseason was mostly about re-establishing a foundation.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Verb
The cooking is no-nonsense, from tortang talong, whole eggplant sealed in an omelet beneath a merry wreckage of pork, to lush tinola, chicken soup streaked with ginger.
—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
The black-and-white security video shows a figure approaching a runway and starting to cross it, seemingly at walking pace, when the aircraft streaks into view.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for streak
Cite this Entry
“Streak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/streak. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
