startle

1 of 2

verb

star·​tle ˈstär-tᵊl 

startled; startling ˈstär-tᵊl-iŋ 

ˈstärt-liŋ

intransitive verb

: to move or jump suddenly (as in surprise or alarm)

the baby startles easily

transitive verb

: to frighten or surprise suddenly and usually not seriously

startlement

ˈstär-tᵊl-mənt 

noun

startle

2 of 2

noun

: a sudden mild shock (as of surprise or alarm)

Synonyms

Verb

• amaze
• surprise
• stun
• shock
• astonish

Examples of startle in a Sentence

Verb

I'm sorry that I startled you.

the lightning startled the children and sent them scurrying for cover

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Topa startled by knee pain Trying to close out the game, right-hander Justin Topa made a pitch in the ninth inning and felt a pain in his knee similar to the patellar tendon injury that ruined most of his 2024 season. —David Brown, Twin Cities, 8 Sep. 2025

Then the Buckel brothers arrived, intent on doing the same, and Smith was startled. —Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 4 Sep. 2025

Noun

Yet the combination of startle, confusion, at least nineteen warning and caution messages, inconsistent information, and lack of recent experience hand-flying the aircraft led the crew to enter a dangerous stall. —David Autor, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025

Perry collected herself after the initial startle and resumed the song when the set design was stabilized. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English stertlen, frequentative of sterten to start

First Known Use

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1603, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

startle

verb

star·​tle

ˈstärt-ᵊl

startled; startling

ˈstärt-liŋ,

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to move or jump suddenly (as in surprise or fright)

2

: to frighten suddenly and usually not seriously

the kitten startles easily

startle noun