strikeout

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablesport

   In baseball, a situation where a batter is out after getting three strikes.

   Grammar: Countable: one strikeout, two strikeouts. Often used with the verb 'record' or 'get'.

   Patterns

   • get a strikeout
   • record a strikeout
   • strikeout in baseball

   The pitcher ended the inning with a strikeout.

   He leads the league in strikeouts this season.

   Her third strikeout of the game came in the final inning.

2. 2nouncountableinformal

   A complete failure or unsuccessful attempt, used informally.

   Grammar: Countable and often used in the phrase 'a strikeout' to mean a failure.

   Patterns

   • a strikeout
   • be a strikeout

   The new product launch was a strikeout; hardly anyone bought it.

   After three strikeouts on job applications, he decided to change his approach.

Word forms

Common combinations

record a strikeout

The rookie pitcher recorded his first major league strikeout.

lead the league in strikeouts

She leads the league in strikeouts with 120 this season.

a strikeout victim

He was the strikeout victim on a curveball.

three strikeouts

Three strikeouts in a row ended the game.

Synonyms and how they differ

failure

Failure is a general word for something that does not succeed; strikeout is informal and often used for a single unsuccessful attempt.

flop

Flop is informal and usually describes a product, movie, or event that fails; strikeout is more often used for personal attempts.

Opposites

Word family

strike verb

In baseball, to swing at a pitch and miss, or to be called out.

striker noun

In baseball, a batter; in soccer, a forward player.

Commonly confused: strikeout or strike? strikeout or walkout?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “strikeout”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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