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to strike

to strike

355 4.2
To make a sudden, planned attack on an enemy or target
  • verb
  • /straɪk/
: atacar
  • To do this, they must strike at the heart of the German Air Force.
  • strike targets
  • strike the enemy
  • strike first

In fact, this is the first time Iran has directly struck Israel.

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Examples

  • I'm going to invade Italy, so I'm going to strike at the heart of this growing Roman Empire.

  • At the same time, Croatian armed units struck at Yugoslav army garrisons in Croatia.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Because of this, the English go where they please and strike where they please.

  • In fact, this is the first time Iran has directly struck Israel.

  • The rebels struck without warning and rarely took prisoners.

  • Soon the balance of power had finally shifted enough to once more strike at Marrakech.

  • In China and Romania, the leaders ordered the armed forces to strike back at the masses.

    Academic text (1992)
  • But before they could attack, Prince Kalitzin struck first with his cavalry brigade.

  • America's so-called "secret armies" operate in the shadows, ready to strike at any time.

  • The military plans to strike enemy positions at dawn to catch them off guard.

Synonyms

to hit
vsto strike
∞ 1.0

To strike someone or something with force

is a planned sudden offensive act, not mere physical contact
to attack
vsto strike
∞ 1.3

To use force to hurt people or damage things

is a sudden, planned assault rather than any general use of force
to zap
vsto strike
  • NSFW
97 6.0

To hit and destroy a person or thing suddenly, often using electricity

is sudden but focuses on deliberate planning and strategic targeting
to surprise
vsto strike
41 4.5

To attack someone suddenly to catch them off guard

is sudden but adds deliberate planning and target selection

Antonyms

774 1.3

To protect people and things from attack or harm

Idioms

66 3.3

Refusing to work to protest, usually by a group of workers

Make people feel a strong connection when it seems familiar

To seriously damage an idea or reputation

Do something quickly to use a good chance before it ends

To make a flame with a match or lighter

To take action that supports justice

To criticize or take advantage of someone when they are weak

Phrasal Verbs

to strike out
  • Jargon
60 4.1

In baseball, cause a batter to be out after they miss three pitches

49 7.4

Declare a law or rule no longer valid

To fight back after someone attacks or hurts you

Stop working as a group to protest for better pay or conditions

33 6.8

Cause someone to fall, become sick, or die suddenly

To agree with someone after talking about the details

23 3.8

To start a conversation, friendship, or activity with someone in a quick informal way

20 4.1

Begin to do something new on your own

19 4.1

Move suddenly toward someone to try to hit or kick them

to strike out
  • Informal
18 3.9

Fail to succeed in an attempt to do something

Start talking to someone you do not know well

Hit someone or something very hard

Remove a name or item from a list by drawing a line through it

5 4.4

To start playing a song, usually by a band or group

Have a strong effect that makes someone suddenly understand

3 6.7

To remove a person or thing from an official list

To make someone unable to speak because they are very surprised or shocked

To stop doing a job to protest for better pay or conditions

1 8.1

Take down a tent when leaving or ending an event

To stop work together to ask the employer for higher pay

To get unexpected good luck

To make a small spark by hitting a piece of flint to start a fire

To find a useful clue that helps an investigation

Compounds

A sudden flash of electricity from the sky that hits something or a sudden strong idea

28 3.2

To refuse to eat as a way to protest or demand change

A surprise attack carried out to stop an enemy from attacking first

strike zone
  • Specialized
12 4.4

Area over home plate between a batter's knees and shoulders where a pitch must pass to be called a strike

12 8.6

A surprise attack with nuclear weapons to destroy an enemy's ability to fight back

A military attack aimed at one target to avoid damage nearby

first strike
  • Specialized
4 5.0

An attack launched early to stop a threat that is about to happen, for example in war or computer attacks

A person who plans and speaks for workers who stop work for better pay or conditions

Workers stay at their workplace and refuse to work until demands are met

A strike by workers not approved by their union

1 7.0

Workers stop work to support other workers on strike

strike pay
  • Jargon
1 6.7

Money a union gives members during a strike to help with living costs

strike-slip fault
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A break in the ground where two rock blocks move past each other horizontally

1 7.2

A military action to stop an expected attack by an enemy before it happens

ten-strike
  • Jargon
1 7.9

A bowler knocks down all ten pins with the first ball in a frame

Workers stop work to support other workers who are not working

8.0

A stoppage of work by workers to make managers follow safety and other workplace rules

How Aggressive

to overrun
43 7.0
to assault
209 4.7
to strike
355 4.2
raid
330 4.9
skirmish
39 6.4

Surface Forms

strike infinitive
striking present participle
strikes third person singular
struck past
struck past participle

Etymology

Strike for a sudden strategic attack is the same idea of a quick, powerful hit from the old word strīcan, so to strike in battle is to attack suddenly to gain an advantage.