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

My friend struck up a conversation with a sweet French man who shared his canelés with us. —Hannah Howard, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2025

The two strike up a bromance that then keels over to one side because Craig is socially inept and, in the end, envious, qualities that fuel inappropriate interactions that get ever more cringey after a disastrous bro-out session with Austin’s friends. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 13 May 2025

Emma and Colin strike up a conversation about various travel destinations and go on an off-camera date that ends cordially, if not with any show of physical affection. —Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 May 2025

During her treatment, Tina and Niall struck up a special friendship. —Terry Baddoo, USA Today, 11 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1562, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for strike up

• buttercup
• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup

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