strikeout

1 of 2

noun

strike·​out ˈstrīk-ˌau̇t How to pronounce strikeout (audio)
: an out in baseball resulting from a batter's being charged with three strikes

strike out

2 of 2

verb

struck out; struck out also stricken out; striking out; strikes out

intransitive verb

1
: to enter upon a course of action
struck out on her own after graduating
2
: to set out vigorously
3
: to make an out in baseball by a strikeout
4
: to finish bowling a string with consecutive strikes
specifically : to bowl three strikes in the last frame
5
US, informal : fail sense 2c
6
: to try to hit suddenly
struck out wildly with his arms
often used with at
struck out at the officers
7
: to remove (something) from a document
struck out a paragraph

transitive verb

of a baseball pitcher : to retire (someone) by a strikeout

Examples of strikeout in a Sentence

Verb their joint venture in Las Vegas struck out, and they hurriedly dissolved the partnership struck out all references to indecent matters
Recent Examples on the Web
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
In that time, no other MLB reliever tops him in strikeouts (839), while only Kenley Jansen has recorded more saves (334). Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026 With his high batting average and minuscule strikeout rates, Arraez has nabbed two Silver Slugger awards, earned three All-Star appearances and won three batting titles (for three different teams). Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
Fire officials said crews were able to largely strike out the fire but a gas line continued to burn. Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026 Pitcher Roger Clemens, who was eight months removed from his complete-game triumph in the College World Series' decisive game and three months away from his MLB debut, struck out two batters. Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for strikeout

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1887, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1707, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of strikeout was in 1707

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Strikeout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strikeout. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

strikeout

1 of 2 noun
strike·​out ˈstrī-ˌkau̇t How to pronounce strikeout (audio)
: an out in baseball resulting from a batter's being charged with three strikes

strike out

2 of 2 verb
(ˈ)strī-ˈkau̇t
1
: to enter upon a course of action
struck out on my own after graduation
2
: to make an out or cause to make an out in baseball by a strikeout
the shortstop struck out
the pitcher struck him out with a curve

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