stroke

1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈstrōk 

stroked; stroking

transitive verb

1

: to rub gently in one direction

also : caress

2

: to flatter or pay attention to in a manner designed to reassure or persuade

stroker noun

stroke

2 of 3

noun

1

: the act of striking

especially : a blow with a weapon or implement

2

: a single unbroken movement

especially : one of a series of repeated or to-and-fro movements

3

a

: a controlled swing intended to hit a ball or shuttlecock

also : a striking of the ball

b

: such a stroke charged to a player as a unit of scoring in golf

4

a

: a sudden action or process producing an impact

a stroke of lightning

b

: an unexpected result

a stroke of luck

the idea was a stroke of inspiration

a master stroke of diplomacy

5

: sudden impairment or loss of consciousness, sensation, and voluntary motion that is caused by rupture or obstruction (as by a clot) of a blood vessel supplying the brain, and is accompanied by permanent damage of brain tissue

Note: Symptoms of stroke include numbness or weakness on one side of the body or face, confusion, impaired speech or vision, loss of coordination or balance, trouble walking, or severe headache.

called also apoplexy, brain attack, cerebrovascular accident

compare ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, transient ischemic attack

6

a

: one of a series of propelling beats or movements against a resisting medium

a stroke of the oar

b

: a rower who sets the pace for a crew

7

a

: a vigorous or energetic effort by which something is done, produced, or accomplished

a stroke of genius

a brilliant diplomatic stroke

b

: a delicate or clever touch in a narrative, description, or construction

8

: heartbeat

9

: the movement in either direction of a mechanical part (such as a piston) having a reciprocating motion

also : the distance of such movement

10

: the sound of a bell being struck

at the stroke of twelve

also : the specific time indicated by or as if by such a sound

11

[stroke entry 1] : an act of stroking or caressing

12

a

: a mark or dash made by a single movement of an implement

b

: one of the lines of a letter of the alphabet

stroke

3 of 3

verb (2)

stroked; stroking

transitive verb

1

a

: to mark with a short line

stroke the t's

b

: to cancel by drawing a line through

stroked out his name

2

: to set the stroke for (a rowing crew)

also : to set the stroke for the crew of (a rowing boat)

3

sports : to hit, kick, or shoot (a ball) with a smooth movement

stroke a putt

stroked a single to left field

intransitive verb

1

: to execute a stroke

2

: to row at a certain number of strokes a minute

Phrases

at a stroke

: all at once

spent her savings at a stroke

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• caress
• pat

Noun

• blow
• swipe
• thump
• hit
• slap
• punch
• knock
• thud
• pound
• lick
• whack
• poke
• smack
• bang
• slam
• beat
• spank

Examples of stroke in a Sentence

Verb (1)

the young mother gently stroked the sleeping child's brow and then leaned over and kissed him

a politician with a special gift for stroking fat-cat donors

Noun

He had a stroke last winter.

She has a strong backhand stroke.

He is ahead by two strokes.

She swims with long, smooth strokes.

the stroke of an oar

She knows the four basic strokes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Facing two strikes, Ramírez stroked a single off reliever Jared Koenig into left field, bringing home two runs. —Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 6 July 2025

In central Gaza, a boy stroked the face of his dead sister, 6-year-old Heba Abu Etiwi, in a morgue at Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital. —Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025

Noun

MacIntyre won with a score of 18-under, one stroke ahead of Adam Scott. —Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025

Recognize warning signs: Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Old English strācian; akin to Old High German strīhhan to stroke — more at strike

Noun

Middle English; akin to Old English strīcan to stroke — more at strike

First Known Use

Verb (1)

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

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1597, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing stroke

• a stroke of genius
• a stroke of work
• at a stroke
• at the stroke of
• counter-stroke
• crawl stroke
• freestyle stroke
• ground stroke
• hemorrhagic stroke
• ischemic stroke
• mini-stroke
• put (someone) off his/her stroke
• stroke of luck
• stroke out
• stroke play
• trudgen stroke
• watershed stroke
• with a (single) stroke of a/the/his/her pen

Rhymes for stroke

• bloke
• boeck
• broke
• choke
• cloak
• cloke
• croak
• folk
• hoke
• joke
• moke
• oak

Kids Definition

stroke

1 of 3 verb

ˈstrōk 

stroked; stroking

1

: to rub gently in one direction

2

: to pass the hand over gently in kindness or tenderness

stroker noun

stroke

2 of 3 noun

1

: the act of striking

especially : a blow with a weapon or instrument

2

: a single unbroken movement

especially : one of a series of repeated or to-and-fro movements

3

: a striking of the ball in a game

especially : a striking or attempt to strike the ball that counts as the scoring unit in golf

4

a

: a sudden action or process that results in something being struck

stroke of lightning

b

: an unexpected result

stroke of luck

5

: sudden weakening or loss of consciousness or the power to feel or move caused by the breaking or blocking (as by a clot) of a blood vessel in the brain

called also apoplexy

6

: one of a series of movements that pushes against something

stroke of an oar

7

: a vigorous or energetic effort by which something is done, produced, or accomplished

a stroke of genius

8

: the movement or the distance of the movement in either direction of a mechanical part (as a piston) having a forward and backward motion

9

: the sound of a bell being struck

at the stroke of twelve

10

a

: a mark made by a single movement of a tool

a stroke of the pen

b

: one of the lines of a letter of the alphabet

stroke

3 of 3 verb

stroked; stroking

1

: to show or cancel with a line

stroked out my name

2

: hit entry 1 sense 1a

gently stroked the ball toward the hole

Etymology

Verb

Old English strācian "stroke, caress"

Noun

Middle English stroke "act of striking"

Medical Definition

stroke

noun

ˈstrōk 

: sudden impairment or loss of consciousness, sensation, and voluntary motion that is caused by rupture or obstruction (as by a clot) of a blood vessel supplying the brain and is accompanied by permanent damage of brain tissue

Note: Symptoms of stroke include numbness or weakness on one side of the body or face, confusion, impaired speech or vision, loss of coordination or balance, trouble walking, or severe headache. The most common type of stroke, ischemic stroke, results from a narrowed or blocked blood vessel, while hemorrhagic stroke results from a ruptured blood vessel. A very brief interruption of blood supply to the brain usually without lasting effects is called a ministroke or a transient ischemic attack.

… people at risk for stroke should be evaluated for surgery to open up blockages in the arteries of the neck.

—Jay Siwek, The Washington Post

Partial paralysis and speech difficulties often follow these strokes.

—Bruce Bower, Science News

stroke survivors

called also apoplexy, brain attack, cerebral accident, cerebrovascular accident