Streak is a word with severalmore than two, but not many different meanings. It can describe a long run of luck or events, a thin line or mark, a personal traita characteristic feature that makes someone or something different, or the way something moves quickly across a space. It is also used as a verb for marking something with lines or blotcheslarge, uneven spots or marks on a surface.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /strik/
Easy pronunciation: STREEK (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable, stressed.
Noun meaning an unbroken series of events.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Streak Meaning
a run of the same kind of result or event, often luck or wins
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an unbroken series of events
Example: She’s on a great winning streak this season.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- run — A direct synonym for an unbroken series of events, especially in phrases like a winning streak or a bad-luck streak.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Streak
Meaning 2
a thin line or mark that stands out from the surface around it
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a narrow marking of a different color or texture from the background
Example: There was a white streak in his dark hair.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- stripe — A strong synonym when the sense is a long narrow line of color.
- bar — Can fit some contexts, but is less natural than stripe for this sense.
Meaning 3
a noticeable part of someone’s personality or behavior
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a distinctive characteristic
Example: She has a stubborn streak.
Meaning 4
to mark something with blotches or uneven streaks of color
Part of speech: verb
Definition: mark with spots or blotches of different color or shades of color as if stained
Example: Rain had streaked the windows.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- mottle — Works as a verb when something is marked with uneven patches or blotches.
- blotch — Possible in this sense, though it is less precise and more limited in everyday use.
Meaning 5
to move fast across an area
Part of speech: verb
Definition: move quickly in a straight line
Example: The plane streaked across the sky.
Meaning 6
a sudden bright flash of light
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a sudden flash (as of lightning)
Example: A streak of lightning lit up the sky.
Meaning 7
to dash naked through a public place as a prank
Part of speech: verb
Definition: run naked in a public place
Example: A student streaked across the field after the game.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Streak Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- run
thin line or mark
- stripe
- bar
to mark with uneven spots or blotches
- mottle
- blotch
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Don’t mix up streak meaning a long run of events with streak meaning a line or mark.
- Don’t use stripe as a synonym for the ‘unbroken series’ sense.
- Don’t use run as a synonym for the ‘thin line or mark’ sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does streak mean in everyday English?
In everyday English, streak most often means a run of events or results, like a winning streak or a bad-luck streak.
What are the best synonyms for streak?
The best synonym depends on the sense. For the ‘series of events’ meaning, run is the closest match. For a line or mark, stripe is a good synonym.
Can streak be a verb?
Yes. As a verb, streak can mean to move very fast in a straight line or to mark something with streaks or blotches.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.