to startle
50
3.3
- verb
- /ˈstɑːrtəl/
:
sobresaltarse
- She startled at the sudden flash of lightning during the storm.
Being surprised by something means that you're startled.
- Being surprised by something means that you're startled.
- You've got to In life, so many times the common thing we do when we're startled is we freeze.
Examples
-
All I can remember next is being startled out of sleep by the sound of footsteps.
-
Clearly, he was startled to see someone else in the kitchen.
Academic text (2009) -
I think I startled him.
-
Didn't mean to startle you.
-
He seems nervous and startles at every sound.
-
You startled me, I didn't hear you coming in.
-
We were startled, that's all.
-
On the morning of May 1, I was startled awake at 6:30 or so.
Academic text (2003) -
Theo turned to answer, startled to find that the others on the plane were sleeping soundly.
Fiction book (1991) -
Nathan opened his eyes, startled by the sudden realization that this woman was his mother's namesake.
Fiction book (1990)
Synonyms
530
1.0
To make a sudden small movement when surprised or afraid
217
1.0
To move or start suddenly because you are surprised
217
2.0
To move something suddenly and sharply
202
2.1
To cause someone to feel sudden surprise and distress
141
1.0
To move suddenly by jumping, leaping, or bouncing
107
1.0
A jump through the air or a sudden strong feeling
97
4.8
To suddenly frighten a person or animal so they panic
71
4.1
Move back quickly because of pain, fear or surprise
23
2.6
To shiver with sudden excitement or fear
8
4.3
To surprise someone and make them react
5
7.7
To be very surprised and move suddenly because of fear
4
3.3
To move something quickly so it turns over in the air
1
5.8
To move quickly and lightly away, often because something scares you
To frighten or startle someone and make them pull back suddenly
Move quickly backward because you are surprised or afraid
Compounds
- Specialized
1
6.6
A quick automatic reaction to a sudden sound or movement that makes you jump
- Specialized
A quick change in your body and feelings when something suddenly surprises you, like a loud noise
How Startled
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Startle comes from the familiar word start, which means 'a sudden movement or surprise'. The small ending -le turns it into 'to cause that movement', so to startle is to make someone jump or move suddenly.