noun
Common
streak
streek
Streak (noun) means a thin line or smear, often left by dirt, color, or motion. Example: “The wet brush left a long streak of white paint down the wall.”
noun
1
A thin line or smear, often left by dirt, color, or motion.
"The wet brush left a long streak of white paint down the wall."
"Tears left a pale streak on his dusty cheek."
"There was a streak of mud across her jacket."
2
A continuous run of the same kind of result, especially in sport, luck, or behavior.
"She is on a lucky streak and has won three raffles in a row."
"After a long losing streak, the club finally celebrated a victory."
"The team is on a five-game winning streak."
3
A noticeable trait in someone's personality.
"There is a cruel streak in him that few people ever see."
"My sister has a creative streak and paints in her spare time."
"He has a stubborn streak that comes out whenever he loses an argument."
verb
1
To move extremely fast, or to run naked in public as a prank or protest.
"A comet streaked across the night sky above the quiet village."
"The children streaked past us on their bikes, laughing loudly."
"A fan streaked across the pitch during halftime."
How to use streak
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA thin line or mark, an unbroken run of similar events, or (informally) running naked in public.
Common pairings
winning streak
streak of bad luck
a mean streak
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Word forms
- Plural
- streaks
- Third person singular
- streaks
- Past tense
- streaked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The wet brush left a long _____ of white paint down the wall.
Etymology
From Old English strica, meaning a line or stroke, related to a very old root meaning simply "line."
Related words
Rhymes for streak
See all rhymes for streak →Frequently asked questions
What does “streak” mean?
The word “streak” means a thin line or smear, often left by dirt, color, or motion. In plain terms, a thin line or mark, an unbroken run of similar events, or (informally) running naked in public.
How do you pronounce “streak”?
“Streak” is pronounced streek (/stɹiːk/ in IPA).
How do you use “streak” in a sentence?
Here is “streak” used in a sentence: “There was a streak of mud across her jacket.”
What part of speech is “streak”?
Depending on how it is used, “streak” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “streak” come from?
The word “streak” comes from Old English. From Old English strica, meaning a line or stroke, related to a very old root meaning simply "line.".
Is “streak” a common word?
“Streak” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “streak” have?
“Streak” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thin line or smear, often left by dirt, color, or motion.
What is a streak on Snapchat?
On Snapchat, a streak (or Snapstreak) is a count of how many consecutive days two people have sent each other snaps. If either person misses a day, the streak resets to zero, which is why users often send quick daily snaps just to keep the streak alive.
What is the difference between a streak and a stripe?
A stripe is a regular, usually deliberate band of color, like the stripes on a flag or a zebra. A streak is a thin, often irregular line or smear left by dirt, color, or fast movement, such as a streak of paint or a streak of lightning. Stripes look designed; streaks look accidental or fleeting.
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