strike
0 antonyms and opposites of strike, grouped by meaning.
Verb — To hit someone or something, often forcefully.
How to use strike
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English strican ("to go, stroke, rub"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to stroke or press" — the sense evolved through "to strike a flag" (lower it) into today's meanings of hitting and of workers stopping work.
Full origin of strike →Frequently asked questions
What does “strike” mean?
The word “strike” means to hit someone or something, often forcefully. In plain terms, to hit something, to stop working in protest, or to suddenly discover or realize something.
How do you pronounce “strike”?
“Strike” is pronounced stryk (/stɹaɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “strike” in a sentence?
Here is “strike” used in a sentence: “The factory workers voted to strike after their pay demands were rejected.”
What part of speech is “strike”?
Depending on how it is used, “strike” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “strike” come from?
The word “strike” comes from Old English.
Is “strike” a common word?
“Strike” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “strike” have?
“Strike” has 7 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to hit someone or something, often forcefully.
What is the difference between strike and hit?
Both mean to bring something forcefully against something else, and they often swap freely. 'Hit' is the plain, everyday word. 'Strike' sounds a little more formal or forceful and is favoured in precise or dramatic contexts — a clock strikes, lightning strikes, a boxer strikes a blow. In casual speech, 'hit' is more common.
What is the difference between strike and stroke?
To strike is to hit something, often hard. A stroke is usually a gentle, smooth movement — you stroke a cat or make a stroke with a brush. Although 'stroke' can name a single act of striking, such as a stroke of the hammer, the verb 'to stroke' means to touch softly, the opposite of striking.
Does 'strike' always mean to hit?
No. Hitting is the core sense, but 'strike' has many others: workers strike by stopping work, you strike a match, you strike gold, an idea strikes you, and you strike a deal. Context makes the meaning clear. The definition here — to hit forcefully — is simply its most physical and literal sense.
What is an example of strike meaning to hit?
'The ball struck the window,' 'she struck the drum,' or 'the car struck a lamppost' all use this sense. Lightning can strike a tree, and a clock strikes the hour by sounding its bell. In each, one thing comes forcefully against another, which is the heart of this meaning.