WordLens

strike

1 of 2verb
/straɪk/
Forms:strikes,striking,struck,struck
1

to hit using hands or weapons

B2transitive
  • The blacksmith struck the hot metal with a hammer to shape it.
  • In self-defense, she struck the assailant with a swift kick to the abdomen.
  • The boxer aimed to strike his opponent with a precise combination of punches.
  • In a fit of rage, he struck the table with his fist, causing it to shake.
  • During the battle, the warrior struck his enemies with a sword in each hand.
2

to launch a planned and forceful attack against an enemy or target

transitive
  • The military planned to strike the enemy's base at dawn.
  • They decided to strike key targets to weaken the opponent’s defenses.
  • The troops were ordered to strike the rebel camp with full force.
  • Airplanes were deployed to strike strategic locations in the region.
  • The fleet moved in position to strike the coastline of the occupied territory.
Synonyms:
3

to stop working as a sign of protest against some work issues, such as low wages, poor working conditions, etc.

B2
  • The workers decided to strike for better pay and benefits.
  • He is planning to strike if their demands are not met.
  • They will strike if the company does not address their concerns.
Synonyms:
4

to deeply influence or cause someone to experience a powerful mental or emotional reaction

transitive
  • The news of her sudden success struck him with pride and joy.
  • The tragic scene in the movie struck the audience with profound sadness.
  • The beauty of the sunset struck her with awe, leaving her speechless.
  • The harsh criticism struck him with a feeling of inadequacy.
  • The resilience of the survivors struck everyone with admiration.
5

to come into contact with something in a forceful manner

  • The waves struck with such force that they damaged the pier.
  • The arrow struck, finding its mark in the target.
  • Two ships struck in the middle of the channel, causing significant damage.
  • The soccer players were in position, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
  • The two cars struck at the intersection, creating a loud crash.
Antonyms:
6

to announce or indicate the time by producing a chime or stroke

transitive
  • The clock struck midnight, and the whole house fell silent.
  • As we sat in the church, the bells struck the hour.
  • The grandfather clock struck seven, signaling it was time for dinner.
  • When the clock struck noon, the entire town gathered for the parade.
  • As the clock struck ten, we realized we had been talking for hours.
7

to happen abruptly and cause harm, damage, or suffering

transitive
  • The hurricane struck the coastline, leaving widespread devastation.
  • A severe drought struck the region, ruining the crops.
  • A financial crisis struck the nation, leading to widespread unemployment.
  • A sudden illness struck him during the meeting, forcing him to leave early.
  • Tragedy struck the small town when a massive fire destroyed several homes.
Synonyms:
8

to cause an electric arc to form between the electrodes of an arc lamp

transitive
  • The technician carefully struck the electrodes to ignite the arc in the lamp.
  • When the power was turned on, the electrician struck the arc lamp, lighting up the entire room.
  • It took several attempts to strike the arc and get the lamp working again.
  • The lamp wouldn't turn on until the electrician struck the arc with precision.
  • The technician showed us how to strike the arc in the new industrial lamp setup.
9

to play a musical instrument by hitting it, typically with the hand or a stick

transitive
  • He strikes the cymbals with precision during the climax of the song.
  • She struck the strings of the guitar with her fingertips, producing a melodic riff.
  • They have been striking the xylophone bars gently to create a soft, tinkling sound.
  • The percussionist was striking the drumhead with a mallet, producing a deep, resonant tone.
  • She will need to strike the keys of the piano forcefully to emphasize the dramatic climax of the piece.
Synonyms:
10

to achieve or attain something, often through effort or action

transitive
  • After years of hard work, she finally struck success in her career.
  • The team struck victory after a tense and exhausting match.
  • After months of searching, they struck a solution to the problem.
  • He struck fame when his novel became a bestseller.
Synonyms:
11

(of light) to fall upon or hit an object or surface

transitive
  • The morning sunlight struck the window, filling the room with warmth.
  • A beam of light struck the surface of the lake, creating a shimmering effect.
  • As the moon rose, its pale light struck the top of the mountain.
  • A single ray of light struck the stained glass, casting vibrant colors on the floor.
  • The warm afternoon sun struck the pavement, making it hot to the touch.
Synonyms:
12

to cancel, eliminate, or mark for deletion, often by drawing a line through the text or item

transitive
  • Please strike the incorrect sentence from the document.
  • The editor decided to strike several paragraphs from the manuscript.
  • He struck the items he had already purchased off his shopping list.
  • The committee voted to strike the outdated clause from the contract.
  • He angrily struck his ex-partner's name from the invitation list.
13

to make a fire or spark while two surfaces are rubbed against each other

transitive
  • He struck the match against the box to light the candle.
  • They struck flint against steel to start a campfire.
  • The survivalist struck his knife against a ferro rod to ignite dry tinder.
  • She struck the match carefully, shielding it from the wind.
  • He struck the match repeatedly until a small flame appeared.
14

to find or encounter something unexpectedly or by chance

transitive
  • While digging in the garden, they struck a hidden chest filled with old coins.
  • The explorers struck a rich vein of gold deep in the mountains.
  • Wandering through the woods, they struck an abandoned cabin.
  • The treasure hunter struck a long-lost artifact buried in the sand.
  • On their journey, they struck a village they hadn't seen marked on any map.
15

to successfully reach, achieve, or establish something that requires agreement or compromise

transitive
  • The two parties struck a deal after hours of negotiation.
  • They managed to strike a balance between work and personal life.
  • After weeks of debate, the committee struck an agreement on the budget.
  • The company struck a compromise with the labor union to avoid a strike.
  • The team struck a partnership with a leading brand to boost sponsorships.
16

to make a sudden or forceful entry into or through something

  • The sword struck through the knight’s armor, leaving a gaping wound.
  • The arrow struck deep into the target, piercing its center.
  • The needle struck through the fabric, piercing it with precision.
  • The dagger struck through the cloth, narrowly missing the flesh beneath.
  • When the needle struck into his skin, he barely flinched.
17

to smooth or shape a surface, such as a mold or material, using a tool

transitive
  • After pouring the plaster, she struck it with a trowel to level the surface.
  • He carefully struck the surface of the concrete mold to ensure it was even.
  • The artisan struck the clay into a smooth, flat base for the pottery.
  • The blacksmith struck the molten metal into the desired mold using his tools.
  • The sculptor struck the wax model gently to create the desired contours.
Synonyms:
18

to produce a coin or medal by pressing a design onto metal using a die

transitive
  • The mint struck thousands of commemorative coins for the anniversary.
  • The artist’s design was carefully engraved onto the die used to strike the medal.
  • Each coin was struck with precision to ensure the details were sharp and clear.
  • The limited-edition gold coin was struck to celebrate the historic event.
  • The mint struck the final batch of silver dollars before ceasing production.
Synonyms:
19

to dismantle or take down a tent or a group of tents from an encampment

transitive
  • After the festival, the crew began to strike the tents and clear the grounds.
  • The soldiers were ordered to strike camp and move out by dawn.
  • It took several hours to strike all the tents after the event had ended.
  • We need to strike the tents before the rain arrives.
  • The volunteers worked together to strike the tents and pack up the supplies.
20

to hit something accidentally, usually with part of one's body

transitive
  • He struck his foot against the doorframe while walking.
  • She struck her head on the shelf as she stood up.
  • I accidentally struck my knee on the table leg.
  • He struck his elbow on the wall when he turned around quickly.
  • He struck his toe on the corner of the furniture and winced in pain.
Synonyms:
21

to take on or assume a particular role, attitude, appearance, or quality

transitive
  • She struck a confident pose before stepping onto the stage.
  • The team struck a defensive formation as soon as the game started.
  • He struck a thoughtful expression as he considered the proposal.
  • He struck a casual tone in the meeting to ease the tension.
  • He struck an air of confidence despite the challenges ahead.
22

to cause someone to suddenly experience a specific emotion.

transitive
  • The news of the accident struck fear in the hearts of everyone present.
  • The haunting image struck sorrow deep within me.
  • The eerie silence struck a sense of dread among the group.
  • His confession struck disbelief in her, as she couldn’t fathom what he was saying.
  • The tragedy struck a profound sadness in the entire community.
Synonyms: