strike out

phrasal verb

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	strike out
he/she/it	strikes out
present participle	striking out
past tense	struck out
past participle	struck out

1
intransitive to start doing something new or different, especially in order to become more independent
strike out for:
It was an opportunity to strike out for independence.
strike out on your own:
O’Connor quit his job and decided to strike out on his own.
Synonyms and related words
To start doing something new or different
strike out
branch out
pioneer
2
intransitive to try to hit or attack someone or something
strike out at:
Without warning, he struck out at Holmes with his right hand.
Synonyms and related words
To attack a person or object
attack
assault
set on
Synonyms and related words
To try to hit or attack someone or something
lash out
strike at
strike out
3
intransitive to criticize someone or something, especially in a speech, interview, or article
strike out at:
He struck out at supporters of the bill in his speech yesterday.
Synonyms and related words
To criticize, accuse or blame
criticize
blame
put down
4
intransitive to walk or swim in a particular direction in a way that shows energy or determination
strike out into:
We decided to strike out on foot into the forest.
strike out for:
Rostov surfaced, then struck out for the nearest shore.
strike out across:
She slid into the water and struck out across the lake.
Synonyms and related words
To walk, or to walk in a particular way
walk
wander
stroll
5
intransitive mainly Americaninformalto be unsuccessful in trying to do something
Looks like we’ve struck out again.
Synonyms and related words
To fail, or to stop being successful
fail
founder
languish
6

strike out
or
strike through
transitive to remove words from a document, for example by drawing a line through them
Strike out lines 5 to 18.
Synonyms and related words
Editing, adapting and proofreading
abridge
adapt
append
7
transitive legalto stop the continuation of a court case
The judge struck out the case for want of cause (=because it was not justified).
Synonyms and related words
Court cases and legal processes
action
admit
advocacy
8
intransitive a batter strikes out in baseball by missing the ball three times, ending their turn at trying to hit it
Synonyms and related words
To perform an action in baseball
balk
bat
catch
1. 8a
  transitive a pitcher strikes a batter out in baseball by throwing three balls that the batter is unable to hit, ending the batter’s turn
  Synonyms and related words
  To perform an action in baseball
  balk
  bat
  catch

strike out

strike out

strike through

strike out

strike out

strike through