Word
startling
Phoneticsstar·tling, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈstɑɹtɫɪŋ/
UK/stˈɑːtlɪŋ/
Definitions
01surprising or shocking
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. very surprising, unusual, or sudden in a way that gets your attention immediately.
adj. causing a sudden feeling of surprise or alarm; highly remarkable or unexpected.
“The report revealed a startling increase in the cost of living this year.”
“The researchers uncovered a startling correlation between sleep deprivation and long-term cognitive decline that had previously been overlooked.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a sudden shock
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Literary
n. a sudden movement or feeling of surprise.
n. the act of startling or the state of being startled; a sudden involuntary movement caused by surprise.
“The loud bang gave her a sudden startling that made her drop her glass.”
“He awoke with a violent startling, his heart racing as the echoes of the dream faded into the quiet room.”
Real-World Examples
“Once found throughout the Midwest—from Iowa and the Dakotas to Michigan and southern Canada—the Poweshiek skipperling began disappearing with startling speed in the early 2000s.” “They lie in mud, shells, ice and rock - fragments of evidence from a time when the Atlantic appears to have changed with startling speed.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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