verb

streichen

paint

Es bedeutet, Farbe mit einem Werkzeug wie einem Pinsel auf eine Fläche aufzutragen.

Definition & meaning

streichen is a strong German verb with several common meanings. Its translation depends on context:

To paint, coat, or spread
To apply paint or another substance over a surface.
- to paint a wall: eine Wand streichen
- to spread butter on bread: Butter aufs Brot streichen
To cross out, delete, or cancel
To remove something from a written text, plan, schedule, or list.
- to cross out a name: einen Namen streichen
- to cancel a flight: einen Flug streichen
To stroke or run a hand gently over something
- to stroke someone’s hair: jemandem über das Haar streichen ?
To glide or brush along a surface
Often used with a preposition to describe something passing lightly over or along something.
- The wind brushes across the water: Der Wind streicht über das Wasser
To give up or surrender, in the fixed expression “to strike one’s colors.”
- die Segel streichen

Grammar & Word origin

streichen is an infinitive verb. It is strong (irregular):

Present: streichen
Simple past: strich
Past participle: gestrichen
Perfect tense: hat gestrichen

It is normally used with haben in the perfect tense. In the sense of painting, for example, Ich habe die Wand gestrichen means “I painted the wall.”

The verb is not a compound. It is historically related to the German noun Strich , meaning “stroke,” “line,” or “mark,” which reflects the idea of making a stroke across a surface.

Synonyms & antonyms

The best synonym depends on the particular meaning:

anstreichen means “to paint” or “to coat,” often with emphasis on applying paint to a surface. It is more specific than streichen.
überstreichen means “to paint over” something, often covering an existing layer or mark.
durchstreichen means “to cross out” or “strike through,” usually more explicitly than streichen.
löschen means “to delete” or “erase,” especially digital information or text; streichen also commonly applies to entries in lists, plans, or schedules.
streicheln means “to stroke” or “caress” gently. It is close to the touching sense of streichen, but usually suggests affection.

There is no single antonym for all meanings. Depending on context:

hinzufügen (“to add”) is an opposite of streichen when something is removed from a list or plan.
beibehalten (“to retain” or “keep”) can contrast with streichen when an item is being canceled.
lackieren (“to lacquer” or “to coat with varnish”) is not a strict antonym, but names a more specific kind of surface treatment rather than ordinary painting.