Startle
verb Base: startle | Past: startled | Past Participle: startled | -ing: startling | 3rd person: startles
Definition
1. To suddenly surprise or frighten someone, usually not seriously.
2. To move or jump suddenly because something surprises or frightens you.
2. To move or jump suddenly because something surprises or frightens you.
Context Alive
The house was completely silent as she read her book on the sofa. A loud crash from the kitchen startled her so badly that she dropped the book on the floor. It turned out the cat had knocked a glass off the counter.
Meanings
2 meanings 1 To Suddenly Surprise or Frighten Someone (Verb — Transitive) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about doing something unexpected that makes someone feel a sudden flash of surprise or fear — but nothing serious or dangerous. Imagine walking into a dark room and your friend suddenly jumps out from behind the door and shouts — that moment when your heart races for a second is being startled. This is startling someone — causing that quick shock of surprise. You might say “sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you” or someone could explain “the loud thunder startled the baby.” Or picture a deer drinking from a river when a branch snaps nearby, and it startles the animal into running away. The word suggests a brief, sudden reaction — not deep, lasting fear. ✏️ “Startled” as an adjective is extremely common — you’ll often hear “a startled look” or “she looked startled” to describe someone’s surprised expression.
Vivid ExampleHe was deep in thought at his desk when his phone rang at full volume. The sudden noise startled him so much that he knocked over his coffee. He laughed at himself as he reached for the paper towels.
2 To Move or Jump Suddenly from Surprise (Verb — Intransitive) Common ▼
This meaning is about your physical reaction — the way your body moves or jumps when something unexpected happens. Imagine sitting quietly on a park bench when a pigeon suddenly lands right next to you and you flinch or jump slightly. This is startling — your body reacting before your brain even processes what happened. You might hear “she startles easily, so don’t sneak up on her” or someone could say “the horse startled and ran when the car honked.” Or think about falling asleep on the train and startling awake when the doors slam shut. The word points to that automatic, involuntary body movement. ✏️ “Startles easily” is a very natural phrase — it describes someone or an animal that gets frightened quickly by sudden noises or movements.
Vivid ExampleThe cat was napping peacefully on the windowsill in the afternoon sun. When a bird flew straight into the glass, the cat startled and leaped off the ledge. It took a few seconds before she calmed down and climbed back up.
Examples from the Street
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you — I thought you heard me come in.”
Sorry, I didn’t intend to give you a sudden fright — I assumed you noticed me entering
“The loud bang startled everyone in the office.”
The sudden loud noise made everyone in the workplace jump with surprise
“She has a startling resemblance to her grandmother — it’s almost eerie.”
She looks shockingly similar to her grandmother — it’s almost unsettling how alike they are
Common Patterns
startle someone → cause someone to jump or react with sudden surprise
didn’t mean to startle you → apologising for accidentally surprising someone
be startled (by something) → react with sudden surprise or alarm to something unexpected
easily startled → someone who jumps or reacts quickly to unexpected things
startle someone awake / out of (something) → suddenly shock someone out of sleep, a thought, or a state
a startled look/expression/face → a facial expression showing sudden surprise
a startled cry/gasp/scream → a sound made in reaction to sudden shock
look/seem startled → appear visibly shocked or caught off guard
a startling discovery/revelation → a finding that is surprisingly shocking or unexpected
a startling resemblance/similarity → a likeness that is surprisingly strong and noticeable
startling results/statistics/figures → data or outcomes that are shockingly unexpected
startlingly (adjective) → to a surprisingly striking degree
Collocations
3 collocationsstartle someone
give a person a sudden fright
startled by
shocked by something unexpected
startle awake
wake up suddenly from a shock
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
I crept up behind her as a joke and startled her so badly she dropped her coffee
I sneaked up behind her for fun and gave her such a sudden fright that she let go of her cup.
2
He was startled by a knock on the door at three in the morning
He was suddenly alarmed by someone banging on his door in the middle of the night.
3
Sorry — I didn’t mean to startle you. I should have called out first
My apologies — I didn’t intend to give you a fright. I should have let you know I was there.
4
Cats are easily startled by loud noises — firework night is always stressful for them
Cats jump and panic quickly when they hear sudden sounds — the evening when people set off explosions in the sky is always a difficult time for them.
5
The alarm startled me awake at five o’clock and I couldn’t get back to sleep
The buzzer shocked me out of my sleep at five in the morning and I wasn’t able to fall asleep again afterwards.
6
She gave a startled gasp when she turned the corner and found him standing right there
She let out a sudden, shocked breath when she came around the bend and discovered he was right in front of her.
7
He had a startled look on his face, as though he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t
His expression showed sudden alarm, as if someone had just discovered him in the middle of something wrong.
8
The investigation produced some startling results that nobody in the department had expected
The inquiry generated some shockingly unexpected findings that caught every single person in the team by surprise.
9
The twins bear a startling resemblance to their father — you’d recognise them anywhere
The two siblings look strikingly and surprisingly similar to their dad — you’d spot the connection immediately.
10
A sudden movement in the bushes startled the deer, and they disappeared into the forest in seconds
An unexpected shift in the undergrowth frightened the animals, and they vanished into the woodland almost instantly.
Learner Examples
★
Being called on unexpectedly in class can startle students who aren’t confident in their English — it’s better to give them a moment to prepare
Being asked to speak without warning during a lesson can give a sudden fright to pupils who aren’t sure about their language ability — it’s more effective to allow them a short time to get ready.
★
Some students produce startling progress when they finally start practising outside the classroom — the difference is dramatic
Certain learners make shockingly impressive improvement once they begin using the language beyond the school walls — the change is remarkable.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
0 items
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymssurprise
catch off guard
frighten
scare suddenly
shock
cause a sudden reaction
alarm
cause sudden worry
Antonymscalm
make relaxed
reassure
ease fears