startle

[ stahr-tl ]

verb (used with object)

, star·tled, star·tling.

1. to disturb or agitate suddenly as by surprise or alarm.

   Synonyms: astonish, frighten, scare

2. to cause to start involuntarily, by or as by a sudden shock.

verb (used without object)

, star·tled, star·tling.

1. to start involuntarily, as from a shock of surprise or alarm.

noun

1. a sudden shock of surprise, alarm, or the like.
2. something that startles.

startle

/ ˈstɑːtəl /

verb

1. to be or cause to be surprised or frightened, esp so as to start involuntarily

Derived Forms

• ˈstartler, noun

Other Words From

• star·tle·ment noun
• star·tler noun
• out·star·tle verb (used with object) outstartled outstartling

Word History and Origins

Origin of startle¹

First recorded before 1100; Middle English stertlen “to rush, caper,” equivalent to stert(en) “to begin, start” ( start + -(e)len -le, or continuing Old English steartlian “to kick, struggle”

Word History and Origins

Origin of startle¹

Old English steartlian to stumble; related to Middle High German starzen to strut, Norwegian sterta to strain oneself

Synonym Study

See shock ¹.

Example Sentences

In the documentary, we see Lopez share Affleck’s love letters with her musicians to inspire them — something that seemed to startle him.

From Los Angeles Times

For these L.A. gigs, she has the Breeders, the great veteran alt-rock band whose 1993 classic “Last Splash” can still startle you with its off-kilter intensity.

From Los Angeles Times

The researchers wondered, then, whether the toe taps were a form of vibrational signaling where the frogs used it as a way to startle or distract the prey before they fed.

From Science Daily

“I’m a triple Aries,” she says with pride, sensing that it might startle me.

From Los Angeles Times

“Dogs can startle or scare bears and provoke defensive behaviors,” according to the state agency website, so dogs should be kept on a leash on trails.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• agitate
• alarm
• amaze
• astonish
• astound
• awe
• scare
• shake up
• shock
• stagger
• stun
• terrify