verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a startling contrast (= very noticeable and surprising )
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The big modern factories make a startling contrast to the opposite side of the road.
a startling discovery (= very surprising )
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When they examined the virus, they made a startling discovery.
a surprising/startling conclusion
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After years of research, he reached a startling conclusion.
startling originality (= used about something so new and different that it surprises you )
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We were amazed by the startling originality of his thinking.
startling revelations
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startling revelations about his background
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
most
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The most startling and lyrical passage is the description of how Dolores was burnt as a baby.
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In perhaps his most startling and disturbing model, Thompson created two scenarios.
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What's the most startling stash you've found in some one's house?
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And, most startling of all, it was an age when people did not kill each other.
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The most startling example of how that power works is the story of Anna Chennault and the 1968 election.
rather
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Here's an early, and rather startling , example of the genre.
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This is a rather startling admission from a noted tough guy.
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Curtis' incipiently multiracial ideas seemed at first rather startling to some other members of the Round.
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We proceed from A to B via a rather startling reductio ad absurdum.
so
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I am sorry my voice is so startling to you.
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He was so startled that he dropped the drill.
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She is so startled and afraid that she complies.
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Perhaps the image is just so startling that it sticks in our minds.
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Her beauty was so startling that it mysteriously approached the comic.
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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson was so startled by the sign that he sought out the fan who wrote it.
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It's the combination of negative factors that makes this situation so startling .
■ NOUN
sound
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Ian scrutinised the key board closely but was suddenly startled by the shrill sound of the telephone ringing.
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For an instant, startled by that snapping sound , he thought he had trodden on a twig.
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He was so engrossed in himself that he was startled by the sound of the back door opening just after midnight.
voice
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I am sorry my voice is so startling to you.
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The too familiar husky female voice startled her into full wakefulness.
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The sound of his voice startled me.
■ VERB
look
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The small, soft sound took a while to register, and when it did she looked up, startled .
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I looked up, startled to find how I had forgotten everything but the antics of these two monstrous beings.
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We went into the dining room and Polly looked up, startled .
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They look startled at first to see me, a gaijin, but then go about their business.
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They looked startled , and exchanged glances.
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He looked up startled into their laughter.
seem
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Though winded, the impact seemed to startle him into a state of panic.
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We both seemed equally startled to see each other.
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The effect of this vision on the handful of monks returning to the monastery might seem a little startling .
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Curtis' incipiently multiracial ideas seemed at first rather startling to some other members of the Round.
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That the bulk of the first new wave of Wirral's heroin users obtained heroin from a single source might seem startling .
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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Any unexpected movements can startle the animal, so it must be approached slowly and steadily.
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I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you.
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The noise startled him, and he dropped his glass on the floor.
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You startled me! I didn't hear you come in.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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He was startled out of this sombre reflection by the sudden awareness that something was Not Quite Right.
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She startled people on arrival in Washington in 1932 by calling a news conference before her husband.
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That startled him and she fell out of bed to get out of his way.
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The peacocks are startled out of the shade into the sunlight.