What does struck mean?
Struck is the past tense and past participle of strike and also functions as an adjective in several common expressions. In its literal sense, it means hit or affected by an impact, as in “The tree was struck by lightning.” Figuratively, it describes a sudden, powerful effect on a person’s feelings or thoughts, such as being struck by grief or by a sudden realization. Struck may also describe something halted by a strike, while expressions such as “struck a match” refer to the act of igniting or producing a flame. The word is common in both British and American English and appears in both formal writing and everyday speech.
Hit, attack, or affect someone or something; refuse to operate in protest; or ignite or produce a light.
"The horse struck the fence, and the worker struck a match."
The precise sense depends on context: struck by lightning is literal, while struck by grief is figurative.
Affected or disabled by a strike, impact, or strong emotional experience.
"The struck workers demanded better safety conditions."
The adjectival use is especially common in phrases such as struck by lightning and emotionally struck.
A single word can capture both a physical impact and an emotional one: someone may be struck by lightning or struck by grief.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does struck come from?
The modern form comes from the verb strike, which developed in Middle English from the Old English strīcan. The verb has relatives in other Germanic languages, including German streichen and Dutch strijken. “Struck” became the established past tense and past participle and developed additional adjectival uses in expressions involving sudden impacts, emotions, and strikes.
Related word forms
How struck is actually used
Struck is commonly used in figurative expressions for a strong emotional or psychological effect. As a past form of strike, it follows the normal rules for verbs, while in expressions such as struck by lightning it functions adjectivally.
Easily confused with struck
Struck is the past tense and past participle of strike, whereas stuck is the past tense and past participle of stick.