streak

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "streak" is correct and usable in written English, depending on the context.
It can be used to refer to a continuous series of successes or failures, or to describe a mark or line on a surface. Example: "She has been on a winning streak for the past five games."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Neil Harris's side were boosted further with the news that Birmingham had extended Rotherham's losing streak to four, winning 2-1, though it was not without a scrap at St Andrew's.

The Guardian - Sport

But the coalition, which has ensnared the country in its homemade austerity trap, has done a brilliant job until now in bringing out the masochistic streak in the British character, and persuading people that all these budget cuts are necessary.

The Guardian - Business

She broke Modern Family's winning streak, beating Julie Bowen, and gave the most concise acceptance speech of all time: "Thanks so much.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

To that list, should United lose at Crystal Palace on Saturday, will come another first – their first four-match league losing streak since February 1979 – an outcome not beyond the realms of possibility given the rank profligacy of their strike force against Albion.

The Guardian - Sport

It is relatively easy too to tick off all the lower league grounds a club might visit in the course of its cup runs, and though it takes a hardier streak to follow a team deep into Europe, plenty of fans will be doing it.

The Guardian - Sport

The sound of the Leicestershire victory song, Fields of Grace Road, ringing out across Chelmsford after the end of a 37-match winless streak, and their first away victory since 2010, was certainly unfamiliar, though.

The Guardian - Sport

But, in front of a strong crowd of 17,821, the Eels held on to finally end their losing streak at five games.

The Guardian - Sport

"I think I have a strong European streak in my make-up.

The Guardian

Valencia ended Real Madrid's winning streak two shy of the world record as they came from behind to win 2-1.

The Guardian - Sport

A modern club should be a collective effort in which the contribution of everyone involved matters, and everyone is working towards the same aims – not running their own agendas and going missing when on a losing streak, which seems to be the case with many top brass.

The Guardian - Sport

But Reynolds laid on three tries in the round-seven clash to snap a two-game losing streak for the injury and suspension-hit Dogs, with Hodkinson playing an improved support role.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to sports, use "streak" to describe either consecutive wins or losses to clearly convey the team's current performance trend.

Common error

Avoid using "streak" when referring to isolated incidents. "Streak" implies a consecutive sequence, not just random occurrences.

Linguistic Context

The word "streak" functions primarily as a noun to denote a continuous series of successes or failures. It can also act as a verb, meaning to move rapidly or to create lines. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sport

35%

General

30%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "streak" is a versatile word, commonly used as both a noun and a verb. It is most frequently employed in news and sports contexts to describe a continuous series of events, especially wins or losses. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct and it has very common usage, it is advisable to use it as a versatile word in professional enviroments, but to ensure that the context accurately reflects a sequence of events, not isolated instances. Furthermore it's useful to remember that for alternatives of "streak" different nuances exist, thus alternatives might better fit depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

run of success

Emphasizes the positive aspect of a series of successful events, focusing on achievement.

string of victories

Specifically highlights a succession of wins, typically in competitive settings.

succession of events

A more general term that can apply to any series of occurrences, not necessarily positive or negative.

series of failures

Highlights a negative sequence of unsuccessful attempts or outcomes.

successive occurrences

Focuses on the sequential nature of events, emphasizing their order.

chain of incidents

Implies a sequence of related events, often with a negative or problematic connotation.

sequence of happenings

A neutral term describing an ordered set of events, without implying any particular outcome or significance.

flurry of activity

Suggests a sudden burst of energetic action, rather than a sustained series.

rash of incidents

Emphasizes a sudden, often unwelcome, outbreak of events.

wave of enthusiasm

Highlights a surge of positive emotion or interest, rather than a sequence of concrete events.

FAQs

How can I use "streak" in a sentence?

You can use "streak" to describe a series of consecutive wins or losses, like "The team is on a winning streak". It can also refer to a characteristic, such as "He has a rebellious streak".

What can I say instead of "winning streak"?

Alternatives include "run of success", "string of victories", or simply "winning period" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "losing streak"?

Yes, "losing streak" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase to describe a series of consecutive losses.

What's the difference between "streak" and "trend"?

"Streak" implies consecutive events (wins or losses), while "trend" suggests a general direction or tendency over a longer period, which might not be strictly consecutive.