jump scare

noun

variants or less commonly jump-scare

ˈjəmp-ˌsker 

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

Arden and Jen Schriever add a lighting design that pairs perfectly with Adam Fisher’s sound design to nail the jump scares. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 26 Apr. 2026

The actor in the show who acts as the boss is a good improviser and the show definitely delivers some scream-inducing jump scares. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026

There are a fair number of jump scares throughout, including moments where Katie makes a sudden movement or pops into the frame unexpectedly. —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026

The illustration for The New Yorker’s profile of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is a jump scare. —Cath Virginia, The Verge, 11 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1986, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for jump scare

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare