striking

UK/ˈstɹaɪkɪŋ/US/ˈstɹaɪkɪŋ/

adjectiveC1Common in everyday speech and writing · #3,982 of 15,258leans written

Striking means so noticeable and impressive that it stops you for a second look. A striking resemblance, striking colours, strikingly beautiful.

It is about the force of the impression rather than about beauty — a striking contrast, a striking absence, a striking difference — though of a person it is usually a compliment meaning arresting rather than pretty. A striking resemblance is the fixed phrase. Note strikingly, used as an intensifier; and that striking is also the participle of strike, so context does the work.

Definitions of striking

1adjectivestrikingSo noticeable and impressive that it stops you for a second look.C1
“There's a striking resemblance between the two sisters.”
synonyms: arresting, remarkable

striking is a quality of impact.

Also accepted in games: remarkable

Practised in Sharper Adjectives

Practise this word

striking in the wild

As striking became a more common practice, governments were often pushed to act (either by private business or by union workers).
Strike action
Many Western nations legalized striking under certain conditions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Strike action
The earliest known mechanical clocks were large striking clocks installed in towers in monasteries or public squares, so that their bells could be heard far away.
Striking clock
In addition to striking on the hour, many striking clocks play sequences of chimes on the quarter-hours.
Striking clock
In baseball, striking out the side refers to when a pitcher strikes out all the batters he faces in the defensive half-inning in which he pitches.
Striking out the side

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

From Project Gutenberg, public domain. These sentences are from real books, shown to illustrate the word at work.

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