What does striking mean?
Striking describes something that attracts attention because it is unusually vivid, attractive, distinctive, or different. The word is often used for a person’s appearance, an image, a color, a design, or a comparison: a striking outfit, a striking photograph, or a striking contrast. It can carry a positive sense of beauty or excellence, as in “a striking performance,” but it can also be neutral or slightly critical when the unusual quality is disruptive or deliberately attention-seeking. In formal writing, striking is especially useful for emphasizing a clear and memorable difference between people, situations, or things. As a verb form, striking is the present participle of strike and refers to hitting something or rejecting an offer or proposal.
Immediately noticeable or attention-grabbing; often attractive, impressive, or notably distinctive.
"The gallery displayed a striking series of self-portraits."
Can be positive, neutral, or mildly critical depending on context and the quality being described.
The present participle of strike, used with the auxiliary have or be.
"The protesters were striking the company’s offices in response to the layoffs."
In this form, striking retains the meanings of strike, including hitting something forcefully and rejecting an offer or proposal.
A striking detail is not merely noticeable: it is designed—or simply happens—to make ordinary attention stop and stare.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does striking come from?
Striking is formed from strike by adding the present-participle ending -ing. Its meanings developed from the older sense of making or delivering a blow and the associated sense of forcefully affecting or rejecting something. By the eighteenth century, the word had also developed the figurative meaning of attracting notice or producing a strong impression, which is now its most familiar adjective use. The root is Old English, where strike was associated with a forceful blow and also with moving or grazing; modern cognate forms include stricken and striker.
Related word forms
How striking is actually used
The adjective is common in standard English in both British and American usage. It can be strongly positive, especially when describing appearance or achievement, but it may also suggest that something is unusual, disruptive, or intended to attract attention. The verb form is less frequent and usually appears in progressive constructions.
Easily confused with striking
As an adjective, striking means immediately noticeable or attention-grabbing; as the present participle of strike, it means hitting, rejecting, or otherwise striking something.