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Glite Dictionary
⏰ At the beginning 😳 Bulging eyes
starting

starting

7.5
Having eyes wide and sticking out because of fear or surprise
  • adjective
  • /ˈstɑrtɪŋ/
translation icon : desorbitado
  • His starting eyes showed his surprise at the announcement made by the speaker.

Examples

  • She had a starting look on her face when she heard the unexpected news.

  • The cat's eyes were starting in shock when it saw the sudden movement in the bushes.

  • He's spent much of the night with his mouth agape and his eyes starting back and forth.

  • He's spent much of the night with his mouth agape and his eyes starting back and forth.

Synonyms

wide-eyed
vsstarting
27 3.4

A person who has eyes open wide because they feel surprised or full of wonder

is about bulging and protrusion from fear rather than plain openness
googly
vsstarting
  • Informal
7 8.4

Having large, round eyes that move and look funny

is used for real bulging from fear or surprise, not for a silly look
bug-eye
vsstarting
4 7.5

Having big eyes that stick out and look surprised

is limited to bulging caused by fear or surprise, not just large eyes
goggle-eyed
vsstarting
1 7.6

Having eyes wide open because you feel surprised or amazed

is specific to bulging as a reaction rather than simple openness
goggly
vsstarting
  • Informal
1 8.1

Having very large eyes that look surprised

is about actual bulging from fear or surprise rather than mere appearance
round-eyed
vsstarting
1 4.8

Having large, open eyes that show surprise or childlike wonder

is tied to bulging from fear or surprise rather than mere round shape
saucer-eyed
vsstarting
1 7.2

Having very large round eyes that show surprise

emphasizes bulging from fear or shock rather than a big round shape
begoggled
vsstarting
  • Archaic
9.6

Having wide, staring eyes that show surprise

is focused on bulging from fear or surprise rather than neutral amazement
popeyed
vsstarting
8.6

Having very wide eyes because you are surprised

is about bulging from fear or surprise rather than general amazement
bugeye
vsstarting
7.9

A person or animal that has very large, round eyes that stick out

is about bulging from fear or surprise rather than animal resemblance
staring
vsstarting
1.8

Someone's eyes are wide open and fixed on one thing, often from fear or surprise

is about bulging outward from fear or surprise rather than a fixed stare
agaze
vsstarting
  • Archaic
9.9

Having eyes wide open and fixed, often from fear or wonder

is about outward bulging from fear or surprise rather than being fixed open
bogeyed
vsstarting
  • Archaic
9.9

Having eyes that look strange and frightening like a monster's

is a neutral description of bulging from fear or surprise, not a monstrous appearance
ox-eyed
vsstarting
9.6

A face with large, round eyes that look gentle or surprised

is about bulging from fear or surprise, not animal-like eye shape

Antonyms

normal
∞ 1.0

Usual or expected in most situations

calm
735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

Idioms

to fire the starting gun
1 5.1

To start a project or activity

Compounds

starting point
69 3.0

A place, time, or situation that people use as a basis for later action

starting pitcher
14 3.5

A pitcher who begins the game for their baseball team

starting line
12 2.0

A marked line where people begin a race or game

starting gate
5 3.4

A movable barrier at a race start that opens to let horses or dogs go

starting gun
2 3.7

A gun fired to mark the start of a race

starting time
2 1.8

The planned time when something begins

starting block
1 3.5

A pair of plates that sprinters push with their feet at the start

starting signal
1 3.5

A sound or light that shows the start of a race

starting post
3.5

The first message that begins a discussion thread online

starting stall
  • Specialized
5.8

A gate at the starting line that holds each horse or racer before a race starts

starting handle
  • Specialized
8.8

A metal crank you put into an engine and turn by hand to make it run

starting motor
  • Specialized
3.7

A small electric motor in a car that turns the engine to start it

starting post
  • Texting
4.1

A post that marks where a race begins, often for horses

starting buffer
  • Specialized
5.4

A liquid made at the start of an experiment to keep the pH steady

How Wide

bug-eye
4 7.5
starting
7.5
wide-eyed
27 3.4
normal
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

starting positive

Morphology

starting = start (opaque) = start + ing

Although morphologically 'start' + -ing, the sense 'bulging/protruding (of eyes)' is a specialized, idiomatic/resultant sense not directly derivable by a B1 learner from the base verb.

Etymology

Starting for bulging eyes comes from the same old verb start, which meant 'to jump' or 'be suddenly surprised'. So starting eyes look as if they 'jump' out in shock or fear.