ENGLISH
REFERENCE

struck

v. · adj.
US //ˈstɹək// UK //stɹˈʌk// struck
  1. 1 to hit (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    hit something or someone with force.

    past tense of strike, meaning to deliver a physical blow or to come into forceful contact with a surface.

    Example

    The ship struck a large rock hidden just below the water.

    Example

    The vehicle struck the barrier at high speed, but the safety features prevented any serious injury to the driver.
    • missed
  2. 2 to give an impression (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to make you think or feel something about a person or situation.

    to produce a specific mental impression or to occur to someone's mind.

    Example

    It struck me as strange that he didn't say hello to us.

    Example

    The candidate's refusal to answer direct questions struck the interview panel as a sign of professional insecurity.
  3. 3 to happen suddenly (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to happen or attack suddenly, like a disaster or a disease.

    to affect someone or something suddenly and usually unpleasantly.

    Example

    Tragedy struck the small town when the factory closed down.

    Example

    Disaster struck the expedition just miles from the summit when a sudden blizzard forced an immediate retreat.
  4. 4 to remove or delete (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Law

    to take something off a list or a record.

    to delete or cancel something from a formal record or document; often used with 'from'.

    Example

    The judge ordered that the witness's last comment be struck from the record.

    Example

    The controversial clause was struck from the final contract after hours of intense negotiation between the legal teams.
  5. 5 affected by (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    strongly affected by a feeling or a situation.

    functioning as a participial adjective meaning strongly affected or overcome by a particular emotion or condition.

    Example

    She stood there, struck dumb by the beauty of the mountains.

    Example

    Struck by a sudden wave of nostalgia, he spent the afternoon wandering through the streets of his childhood neighbourhood.

Last updated June 19, 2026