jump scare

noun

variants or less commonly jump-scare or jumpscare
plural jump scares also jump-scares or jumpscares
: a scripted moment (as in a film or video game) intended to startle the audience
The biggest jolts in "The Omen" … come from conventionally staged jump scares, where a nasty image suddenly flashes on the screen accompanied by a startling sound effect.Li Wang
… differentiates itself from other VR [=virtual reality] horror games by not resorting to cheap jump-scares, instead flexing its brilliant visuals to build an atmospheric sense of foreboding.Chris Button

Examples of jump scare in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Parker Finn's directorial debut not only lives up to the hype but also delivers a campy and absurd exploration of the transference of generational trauma — pulling off some impressive jump scares and one hell of a phantasmagorical ending. Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025 There are plenty of jump scares, including a moment in the house when the Fiend and Uncle Howdy simultaneously pop out at guests from both sides, symbolically reuniting Windham and Taylor. Eve Chen, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025 The film blends jump scares with complex family dynamics, a balance that Stranger Things aspires to achieve as well. Eliana Dockterman, Time, 16 Oct. 2025 The best horror stories are those that don’t rely on jump scares or bloodied campground killers to frighten. Big Think, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for jump scare

Word History

First Known Use

1986, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jump scare was in 1986

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Cite this Entry

“Jump scare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jump%20scare. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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