Phrasal verb
strike out
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
strike out
Past
struck out
Past participle
struck out
Definition
phrasal verb. to start doing something new or independent, especially to show you can succeed on your own. It can also mean to fail in a game of baseball.
phrasal verb. to begin a new, independent course of action or career; alternatively, in baseball, to be dismissed after three strikes. The figurative sense of 'starting out' is often used to emphasize independence or a departure from a previous group.
Examples
“After years at the firm, she decided to strike out on her own.”
“Many young artists strike out for the city hoping to find fame and better opportunities.”
“Having secured sufficient venture capital, the lead engineer chose to strike out and establish a competing startup in the burgeoning tech sector.”
Examples
simple
“After years at the firm, she decided to strike out on her own.”
contextual
“Many young artists strike out for the city hoping to find fame and better opportunities.”
complex
“Having secured sufficient venture capital, the lead engineer chose to strike out and establish a competing startup in the burgeoning tech sector.”
Usage
often followed by the prepositional phrase 'on one's own' when describing independence.
Teaching tip
distinguish between the literal baseball sense (failure) and the figurative entrepreneurial sense (independence); the latter is much more common in business English.
Pitfall
He decided to strike out his own.
He decided to strike out on his own.
the preposition 'on' is required when using this phrase to mean starting an independent venture.
Phrasal verb
Particles
out
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
strike + out (+ on + one's + own)
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/strike-out