Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Very noticeable or impressive; attracting attention: "striking" describes something that stands out strongly, either visually or conceptually, making an immediate and powerful impression.
   • Dramatic or sensational in effect: "striking" can describe something that is thrilling or impressive in its appearance or impact.

2. Noun:

   • The act of hitting or making contact: "striking" refers to the physical action of one thing hitting another.
   • The instance of two or more things coming together: "striking" can denote the moment of contact or collision.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The artist used striking colors in her painting. (The artist used very noticeable and impressive colors.)
  • There is a striking similarity between the two stories. (There is a very noticeable and remarkable similarity.)
  • He made a striking recovery after the surgery. (He made a dramatic and impressive recovery.)

• Noun:

  • The striking of the hammer on the anvil was loud. (The act of the hammer hitting the anvil was loud.)
  • The clock's striking marked the hour. (The clock's act of hitting its bell to make a sound marked the hour.)

Advanced Usage

• "within striking distance": close enough to be reached or attacked easily.
  • The supermarket is within striking distance of my house. (The supermarket is very close to my house.)

Variants and Related Words

• Strike (verb): To hit or to make an impression.
  • The idea struck me as brilliant. (The idea impressed me as brilliant.)
• Strikingly (adverb): In a very noticeable or impressive manner.
  • She was strikingly beautiful. (She was beautiful in a very noticeable way.)

Synonyms

• Prominent: Very noticeable; standing out.
• Salient: Most noticeable or important.
• Spectacular: Beautiful in a dramatic and eye-catching way.
• Dramatic: Sudden, striking, and impressive.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Strike out: To start doing something new and independent; in baseball, to fail to hit the ball three times.
  • After years with the company, she decided to strike out on her own. (She decided to start her own independent business.)
• Strike up: To begin something, like a conversation or a piece of music.
  • He struck up a conversation with the person next to him. (He began a conversation.)

Related Idioms

• Strike a chord: To cause an emotional response or feeling of recognition.
  • Her speech about kindness struck a chord with the audience. (Her speech caused the audience to feel an emotional connection.)
• Strike while the iron is hot: To act at the most favorable moment.
  • You should apply for the job now and strike while the iron is hot. (You should apply now, taking advantage of the current opportunity.)

Adjective

1. having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
   • an outstanding fact of our time is that nations poisoned by anti semitism proved less fortunate in regard to their own freedom
   • a new theory is the most prominent feature of the book
   • salient traits
   • a spectacular rise in prices
   • a striking thing about Picadilly Circus is the statue of Eros in the center
   • a striking resemblance between parent and child
2. sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
   • a dramatic sunset
   • a dramatic pause
   • a spectacular display of northern lights
   • it was a spectacular play
   • his striking good looks always created a sensation

Noun

1. the act of contacting one thing with another
   • repeated hitting raised a large bruise
   • after three misses she finally got a hit
2. the physical coming together of two or more things
   • contact with the pier scraped paint from the hull