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 notions—
R. P. Warren
R. P. Warren3
: 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
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
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
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
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
: bewitch
17
: to arrive at by or as if by computation
strike a balance
19
: to engage in a strike against (an employer)
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
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
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
David Clarey, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Women’s CrossCity Sneaker While famous for its athleisure apparel, Lululemon has quietly expanded into the realm of sneakers—and this lightweight pair strikes the perfect balance of stylish and comfortable for long days of sightseeing.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
Steve Coppell’s team were settled and, in Wright and Mark Bright, blessed with one of the most potent strike partnerships in the country.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strike
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.
Verb
From 2018 to 2021, Lauren Spors faced a number of charges for a series of violent incidents, including striking a manager at a coffee shop and throwing a rock through a window in an effort to break into her mother's house.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Women’s CrossCity Sneaker While famous for its athleisure apparel, Lululemon has quietly expanded into the realm of sneakers—and this lightweight pair strikes the perfect balance of stylish and comfortable for long days of sightseeing.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
Two high-rise residential buildings were hit in the strikes, the mayor of Ukraine’s capital, Vitali Klitschko, said according to Reuters, including the second and third floors of a nine-story building in the Desnianskyi district.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
Steve Coppell’s team were settled and, in Wright and Mark Bright, blessed with one of the most potent strike partnerships in the country.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strike
Cite this Entry
“Strike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strike. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
strike
1 of 2 verb1
: 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 noun1
: 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
1
: to remove or delete something
2
: to stop work in order to force an employer to comply with demands
1
: to remove or delete from a legal document and especially from the record of a trial
it struck that part of [the] injunction—National Law Journal
National Law Journal2
: to remove (a prospective juror) from a venire
3
: to engage in a strike against (an employer)
strike
2 of 2 noun1
: 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
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