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

Hungary has sought to further fortify this position by striking up a close partnership with Israel, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who currently heads the most right-wing government ever in his country's history. —Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

Pocketbook cofounder Sean Roland, who grew up in the area and has lived in Hudson for over a decade, struck up a friendship with former owner Eleanor Ambos. —Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 18 Nov. 2025

Despite this, Nile and Aggie strike up an unlikely friendship. —Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025

The weapon is a cruise missile with a range to strike up to 621 miles, according to reports. —Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 14 Nov. 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