strike

1 of 2

verb

struck ˈstrək How to pronounce strike (audio) ; struck also stricken ˈstri-kən How to pronounce strike (audio) ; striking ˈstrī-kiŋ How to pronounce strike (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to take a course : go
struck off through the brush
2
a
: to aim and usually deliver a blow, stroke, or thrust (as with the hand, a weapon, or a tool)
b
: to arrive with detrimental effect
disaster struck
c
: to attempt to undermine or harm something as if by a blow
struck at … cherished notionsR. P. Warren
3
: to come into contact forcefully
two ships struck in mid channel
4
: to delete something
5
: to lower a flag usually in surrender
6
a
: to become indicated by a clock, bell, or chime
the hour had just struck
b
: to make known the time by sounding
the clock struck as they entered
7
: pierce, penetrate
the wind seemed to strike through our clothes
8
a
: to engage in battle
b
: to make a military attack
9
: to become ignited
the match struck
10
: to discover something
struck on a new plan of attack
11
a
: to pull on a fishing rod in order to set the hook
b
of a fish : to seize the bait
12
: dart, shoot
13
a
of a plant cutting : to take root
b
of a seed : germinate
14
: to make an impression
15
: to stop work in order to force an employer to comply with demands
16
: to make a beginning
the need to strike vigorously for success
17
: to thrust oneself forward
he struck into the midst of the argument
18
: to work diligently : strive

transitive verb

1
a
: to strike at : hit
b
: to drive or remove by or as if by a blow
c
: to attack or seize with a sharp blow (as of fangs or claws)
struck by a snake
d
: inflict
strike a blow
e
: to produce by or as if by a blow or stroke
Moses struck water from the rock
f
: to separate by a sharp blow
strike off flints
2
a
: to haul down : lower
strike the sails
b
: to dismantle and take away
strike the set
c
: to strike the tents of (a camp)
3
: to afflict suddenly
stricken by a heart attack
4
a
: to engage in (a battle) : fight
b
: to make a military attack on
5
: delete, cancel
strike the last paragraph
6
a
: to penetrate painfully : pierce
b
: to cause to penetrate
strike the needle
c
: to send down or out
trees struck roots deep into the soil
7
a
: to level (something, such as a measure of grain) by scraping off what is above the rim
b
: to smooth or form (something, such as a mold) with a tool
8
: to indicate by sounding
the clock struck one
9
a(1)
: to bring into forceful contact
struck his head on the doorjamb
(2)
: to shake (hands) in confirming an agreement
(3)
: to thrust suddenly
b
: to come into contact or collision with
the car struck the tree
c
of light : to fall on
d
of a sound : to become audible to
10
a
: to affect with a mental or emotional state or a strong emotion
struck with horror at the sight
b
: to affect a person with (a strong emotion)
words that struck fear in the listeners
c
: to cause to become by or as if by a sudden blow
struck him dead
11
a
: to produce by stamping
strike a coin
b(1)
: to produce (something, such as fire) by or as if by striking
(2)
: to cause to ignite by friction
strike a match
12
: to make and ratify the terms of
strike a bargain
13
a
: to play or produce by hitting or plucking keys or strings
struck a series of chords on the piano
b
: to produce as if by playing an instrument
his voice struck a note of concern
14
a
: to hook (a fish) by a sharp pull on the line
b
of a fish : to snatch at (a bait)
15
a
: to occur to
the answer struck me suddenly
b
: to appear to especially as a revelation or as remarkable : impress
it struck the crowd as insensitive
16
17
: to arrive at by or as if by computation
strike a balance
18
a
: to come to : attain
b
: to come upon : discover
strike gold
19
: to engage in a strike against (an employer)
20
: take on, assume
strike a pose
21
a
: to place (a plant cutting) in a medium for growth and rooting
b
: to so propagate (a plant)
22
: to make one's way along
will strike the southern coast
23
: to cause (an arc) to form (as between electrodes of an arc lamp)
24
of an insect : to oviposit on or in

strike

2 of 2

noun

1
: a tool for smoothing a surface (as of a mold)
2
: an act or instance of striking
3
a
: a work stoppage by a body of workers to enforce compliance with demands made on an employer
b
: a temporary stoppage of activities in protest against an act or condition
4
: the direction of the line of intersection of a horizontal plane with an uptilted geologic stratum
5
a
: a pull on a fishing rod to strike a fish
b
: a pull on a line by a fish in striking
6
: a stroke of good luck
especially : a discovery of a valuable mineral deposit
7
a
: a pitched ball that is in the strike zone or is swung at and is not hit fair
b
: a perfectly thrown ball or pass
8
9
: an act or instance of knocking down all the bowling pins with the first bowl
10
: establishment of roots and plant growth
11
: cutaneous myiasis (as of sheep)
12
a
: a military attack
especially : an air attack on a single objective
b
: a group of airplanes taking part in such an attack
Phrases
strike it rich
: to become rich usually suddenly
Choose the Right Synonym for strike

affect, influence, touch, impress, strike, sway mean to produce or have an effect upon.

affect implies the action of a stimulus that can produce a response or reaction.

the sight affected her to tears

influence implies a force that brings about a change (as in nature or behavior).

our beliefs are influenced by our upbringing

touch may carry a vivid suggestion of close contact and may connote stirring, arousing, or harming.

plants touched by frost
his emotions were touched by her distress

impress stresses the depth and persistence of the effect.

only one of the plans impressed him

strike, similar to but weaker than impress, may convey the notion of sudden sharp perception or appreciation.

struck by the solemnity of the occasion

sway implies the acting of influences that are not resisted or are irresistible, with resulting change in character or course of action.

politicians who are swayed by popular opinion

Examples of strike in a Sentence

Verb The ship struck an iceberg. The car struck the tree. The bullet struck him in the leg. The cyclist was struck by a car. The tree was struck by lightning. He fell and his head struck the pavement. I could hear the rain striking the rooftop. She struck the cymbals together. The killer struck him with a blunt object. She accidentally struck another player in the face. Noun a strike by airline pilots The workers are on strike. Workers threatened to take strike action. The allies have launched several strikes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Hardy took to Instagram in November to announce that the film, billed as the final one in the series, had resumed production after taking a break due to last year’s actors strike. Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024 The drone strikes caused fires at petroleum facilities in Nizhny Novgorod, 480 miles from the Ukrainian border, and in Oryol, 95 miles from the border, Russian media reported. Serhii Korolchuk, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 The group tried and failed at least three times to blow up American airliners, and has been targeted by U.S. drone strikes for two decades. Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 12 Mar. 2024 Louisiana Jury Finds Officer Guilty in Fatal Shooting of 6-Year-Old Autistic Boy The other deputy fired their gun three times, and Gainer was struck in his side, confirmed Lacy. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024 And this past weekend, five Gazans were struck and killed by a package with a parachute that failed to open. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024 In an era of faltering global resolve on other challenges, great powers had initially struck an optimistic note in grappling with AI. Aziz Huq, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2024 When paranoia strikes, a religious devotee of Hindu god Hanuman battles it with a mace. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Mar. 2024 Without a deal, the Teamsters union’s 5,000 members had been poised to strike Friday against the company’s 12 breweries across the country, which make Bud Light, Budweiser, Michelob Ultra, Stella Artois and other brands of beer. Lauren Kaori Gurley, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024
Noun
As well as targeting Russia’s deep oil reserves, Kyiv’s latest strikes may be partially intended to bring home to Russians the impact of the war just as the country prepares for a presidential election. Rob Picheta, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 There is no sign the appetite for adaptations is letting up, despite the economic slowdown and strikes. K.j. Yossman, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 Among the places damaged was an apartment building in Kryvyi Rih, hometown of President Volodymyr Zelensky, where Ukrainian officials said a drone strike and the ensuing fire killed at least five people and wounded more than 50. Natalia Abbakumova, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 Every hit is lethal — a single head stomp or arrow strike kills, and the rounds end when there’s only one (or none) left standing. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024 Weighing on growth in January was strike action by junior doctors, which contributed to the highest number of days lost to industrial action since September. Andrew Atkinson, Fortune Europe, 13 Mar. 2024 Weeks after October 7, the Biden administration stopped Israel from launching a preventive war on Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, a strike that would have dramatically expanded the scope and scale of the current conflict. Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2024 The 96th Oscars had a lot to celebrate, what with a rough year plagued by two dueling strikes, a couple of world-rocking blockbusters, and a crop of truly great films. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2024 The grisly incident encapsulates much of the horror of the moment in Gaza, a territory that has been pulverized by the Israeli military campaign that followed Hamas’s deadly Oct. 7 strike on southern Israel. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'strike.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English strīcan to stroke, go; akin to Old High German strīhhan to stroke, Latin stringere to touch lightly, striga, stria furrow

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of strike was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near strike

Cite this Entry

“Strike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strike. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

strike

1 of 2 verb
struck ˈstrək How to pronounce strike (audio) ; struck also stricken ˈstrik-ən How to pronounce strike (audio) ; striking ˈstrī-kiŋ How to pronounce strike (audio)
1
: to take a course : go
strike across the field
2
a
: to deliver a stroke or blow : hit
b
: to attack or seize especially with fangs or claws
struck by a snake
3
: to remove or cancel with or as if with a stroke of the pen
struck out a word in the text
4
: to lower, take down, or take apart
strike a flag
strike camp
5
a
: to indicate or become indicated by a clock, bell, or chime
the hour had just struck
b
: to indicate by sounding
the clock struck one
6
: to pierce or penetrate or to cause to pierce or penetrate
the wind seemed to strike through our clothes
7
: to make a military attack : fight
strike for freedom
8
: to seize the bait
a fish struck
9
: to take root or cause to take root : germinate
some plant cuttings strike quickly
10
: to stop work for the purpose of forcing an employer to meet demands
11
: to make a beginning : launch
the orchestra struck into another waltz
12
: to cause to suffer pain or distress suddenly
struck down at the height of her career
13
a
: to bring into forceful contact
struck my knee against the seat
b
: to come into contact or collision with
the car struck the tree
c
: to fall on
sunlight strikes your face
14
: to affect with a strong feeling
struck by its beauty
15
a
: to produce by stamping
strike a coin
b
: to cause to ignite by friction
strike a match
16
: to produce on a musical instrument by hitting or plucking strings
strike a chord on the piano
17
a
: to come to mind
the answer struck me suddenly
b
: to appear remarkable or make a strong impression on : impress
I was struck by its beauty
18
a
: to come to
strike the main road
b
: to come upon : discover
strike gold
19
: to take on : assume
strike a pose

strike

2 of 2 noun
1
: an act or instance of striking
2
a
: a stopping of work by a body of workers to force an employer to meet demands
b
: a temporary stopping of normal activities in protest against an act or condition
a hunger strike
3
: a pull on a line by a fish in striking
4
: a stroke of good luck
especially : a discovery of a valuable mineral deposit
5
: a baseball pitch that passes through the strike zone or that is swung at without being hit fair
6
: disadvantage entry 1 sense 2a, handicap
their poor attendance was a strike against them
7
: the knocking down of all the pins with the first ball in bowling
8
: a military attack

Medical Definition

strike

noun
: cutaneous myiasis (as of sheep)
body strike
blowfly strike

Legal Definition

strike

1 of 2 verb
struck; struck also stricken; striking

intransitive verb

1
: to remove or delete something
2
: to stop work in order to force an employer to comply with demands

transitive verb

1
: to remove or delete from a legal document and especially from the record of a trial
it struck that part of [the] injunctionNational Law Journal
2
: to remove (a prospective juror) from a venire
3
: to engage in a strike against (an employer)

strike

2 of 2 noun
1
: the removal of a potential juror from a venire compare challenge
2
: a concerted work stoppage, interruption, or slowdown by a body of workers to enforce compliance with demands made on an employer see also rent strike, Labor Management Relations Act compare job action
economic strike
: a strike that is brought against an employer because of a dispute regarding economic benefits or conditions (as wages)

Note: Workers engaged in an economic strike can legally be replaced permanently. No-strike clauses in collective bargaining agreements have been held to bar only economic strikes and not strikes protesting an unfair labor practice.

general strike
: a simultaneous strike by all unionized workers of all trades and industries
jurisdictional strike
: a strike that is called against an employer as a result of a dispute with another union as to the right to perform particular work
organizational strike
: recognition strike in this entry
primary strike
: a strike by workers against their employer with whom they have a dispute
recognition strike
: a strike by workers against their employer seeking to force the employer to recognize the union as their collective bargaining agent

called also organizational strike

secondary strike
: sympathy strike in this entry
sit-down strike
: a strike during which employees remain in and occupy the employer's premises as a protest and means of forcing compliance with demands

Note: This form of strike has been illegal according to both statute and case law since the early 1940s.

sympathy strike
: a strike by workers not involved in a labor dispute in support of other striking employees or unions

called also secondary strike

wildcat strike
: a strike by workers that is not authorized by the union

More from Merriam-Webster on strike

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