stroked; stroking
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
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 attack6
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
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
stroked; stroking
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
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
Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
The scrawny stray Marlon Brando stroked in The Godfather was found on the Paramount lot the morning of the shoot.
—Steve Garbarino, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
In a stroke of fortuitous schedule alignment, his new team was Denver-bound five days later, facing a Nuggets squad that Jordan didn't want to leave in the first place.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stroke
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
Sometimes just stroking the ball to the other field, as Andres Gimenez did to drive in a run, or rolling one through the hole as Addison Barger did for an RBI in that inning, works just as well.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
The scrawny stray Marlon Brando stroked in The Godfather was found on the Paramount lot the morning of the shoot.
—Steve Garbarino, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
People who caught the flu were up to six times more likely to have a heart attack in the month after the infection, and those who had Covid-19 had nearly twice the risk of developing heart disease or stroke compared with people who hadn’t been infected.
—Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
In a stroke of fortuitous schedule alignment, his new team was Denver-bound five days later, facing a Nuggets squad that Jordan didn't want to leave in the first place.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Cite this Entry
“Stroke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stroke. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stroke
1 of 3 verb
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 noun1
: 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
: 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
Jay Siwek, The Washington PostPartial paralysis and speech difficulties often follow these strokes.—Bruce Bower, Science News
Bruce Bower, Science Newsstroke survivors
called also apoplexy, brain attack, cerebral accident, cerebrovascular accident
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