strike

To hit someone or something with force.

• The ball struck the window.
• She struck the drum three times.
• Do not strike the glass with anything hard.

How to use it: strike someone/something with something (He struck the nail with a hammer.)

Similar words: hit

Common phrases: strike someone, strike a ball, strike with something

If a thought does this, you suddenly think of it or feel that it is true.

• An idea struck me.
• His reply strikes me as strange.
• It suddenly struck us that we had forgotten the tickets.

How to use it: strike someone as something (The plan strikes me as sensible.); it strikes someone that… (It struck her that nobody had called.)

Similar words: occur to

Common phrases: strike someone as, strike me that

If bad luck or trouble does this, it suddenly affects someone.

• Disaster can strike without warning.
• Bad luck struck us again.
• Tragedy struck the family when their house burned down.

Similar words: hit, befall

Common phrases: strike someone, disaster can strike, tragedy may strike

If a clock does this, it makes sounds to show what time it is.

• The clock struck six.
• We waited for the clock to strike midnight.
• Did you hear the church clock strike?

Similar words: chime

Common phrases: strike twelve, strike midnight, strike the hour

If a disease does this, it suddenly makes someone ill.

• Flu struck the family.
• The disease can strike at any age.
• She was stricken with a serious infection.

How to use it: be stricken with something (Several villagers were stricken with fever.)

Similar words: afflict, attack

Common phrases: strike someone, be stricken with

To remove words, names, or other information from a written record.

• Strike that sentence from the letter.
• Her name was struck from the list.
• The editor struck out two paragraphs.

How to use it: strike something from something (The judge struck the remark from the record.); strike out something (Please strike out the final sentence.)

Similar words: remove, delete, cross out

Opposites: add, insert

Common phrases: strike out something, strike something from

A period when workers stop working together to demand better pay or working conditions.

• The workers are on strike.
• The strike ended after three days.
• Teachers called a strike for better working conditions.

How to use it: be on strike (The bus drivers are on strike.); a strike over something (The union called a strike over pay.)

Similar words: walkout, work stoppage

Common phrases: go on strike, call a strike, end a strike, student strike

An attack intended to hurt someone, damage something, or weaken an opponent.

• An air strike destroyed the bridge.
• The army planned several strikes against enemy positions.
• The lawsuit was a strike against his rival's business.

How to use it: a strike against/on something (The army launched a strike against the base.)

Similar words: attack, assault

Common phrases: air strike, military strike, launch a strike