strike up

verb

struck up; struck up also stricken up; striking up; strikes up

intransitive verb

: to begin to sing or play or to be sung or played

transitive verb

1
: to cause to begin singing or playing
strike up the band
2
: to cause to begin
strike up a conversation

Examples of strike up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Even more important, Maria and Jane would strike up a friendship that would span decades and cross borders. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026 Billie Joe Armstrong followed Dangerfield on Instagram, and the two struck up a friendship that led to the Paradox opening for Green Day on the Atlanta stop of its Saviors Tour. — Christine Terrisse, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 There are other niceties too, like room for luminous tritium vials on a spinning module that should delight eager fidgeters, and the SceptriX's ability to strike up a spark with a separate ferro rod and light a fire. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026 So, guys weren’t coming up to him to strike up a conversation. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for strike up

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1562, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of strike up was circa 1562

Rhymes for strike up

See All Rhymes for strike up

Browse Nearby Words

strike/touch a chord in/with
strike up
strike up a conversation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Strike up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strike%20up. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

strike up

verb
1
: to begin or cause to begin to sing or play
strike up the band
2
: to cause to begin
strike up a conversation
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