startle

startle — verb

1. to cause a sudden, brief feeling of shock or surprise in someone, often making t

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to cause a sudden, brief feeling of shock or surprise in someone, often making them jump or react physically, but without causing serious fear

Example

Noa was startled by the sudden clap of thunder that shook the windows.

be startled by [sudden event]

The crash from the kitchen startled Brandon so much that he dropped his book.

startle + object + so much that [result]

Common collocations
  • startled by a noise
  • startled awake
  • startle someone into action
  • easily startled
  • startle the animals
Synonyms
  • surprise

    broader meaning, can be pleasant; startle always involves suddenness

  • frighten

    implies stronger fear; startle is usually milder and temporary

  • alarm

    suggests worry about danger; startle is about suddenness, not threat

  • shock

    more intense and longer-lasting; startle is brief

Antonyms
  • calm

    to make someone peaceful rather than suddenly surprised

  • reassure

    to remove fear or worry, opposite of startling

Grammar Patterns

startle + object

be startled (by/at something)

startle + object + awake/into action

Usage Note

Frequently used in the passive voice (be startled by/at something). The subject of the active form is typically an unexpected event or noise. Resultative adjectives like 'awake' or phrases like 'into action' can follow the object: 'The alarm startled him awake.'

Common Mistakes

The loud noise startled me up.
The loud noise startled me.
'startle' already describes a sudden reaction; adding 'up' is unnecessary unless you mean a specific result like 'startled awake.'
I startled at the spider.
The spider startled me.
Sense 1 is transitive: the unexpected thing causes the reaction. For intransitive use (you jump because of surprise), see sense 2.

2. to make a sudden, quick movement because something unexpected has surprised or f

2.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

to make a sudden, quick movement because something unexpected has surprised or frightened you

Example

Rin startled at the sound of a twig snapping in the quiet forest.

startle at [unexpected sound]

The horse startled when a plastic bag blew across the path in front of it.

Common collocations
  • startle at a sound
  • startle out of a dream
  • startle at the doorbell
Synonyms
  • jump

    more general; jumping can be voluntary or involuntary

  • flinch

    a smaller movement, often from pain or fear; startle is a bigger reaction from surprise

Grammar Patterns

startle at something

startle out of something

Usage Note

Intransitive — the person or animal is the subject, not the object. Compare with sense 1: 'The noise startled me' (transitive, noise = subject) vs 'I startled at the noise' (intransitive, I = subject). This sense is less common in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

I startled from the loud noise.
I startled at the loud noise.
The preferred preposition with this sense is 'at,' not 'from.'

startle — noun

Word family

  • startled
    adjectiveB1
  • startling
    adjectiveB2
  • startlingly
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

These four words all describe causing a reaction in someone, but they differ in intensity, duration, and emotional flavour. 'Surprise' is the broadest and most neutral — it can be positive (a surprise party) or negative, and it doesn't imply fear. 'Startle' is more specific: it always involves suddenness and a brief physical reaction like jumping. 'Frighten' adds the element of fear — a frightened person is afraid, not just surprised. 'Alarm' suggests worry about a potential danger (alarmed by news of a storm), whereas 'startle' is about an immediate, usually harmless event. 'Shock' is the strongest — it implies deep emotional impact that takes time to recover from. For example: The cat surprised me by appearing quietly (just unexpected). The cat startled me when it jumped onto my lap suddenly (brief jump). The cat frightened the mouse (the mouse ran in fear). The cat's illness alarmed the family (they worried). The cat's death shocked the whole neighbourhood (deep, lasting sadness).

surprise ↗frighten ↗alarm ↗shock ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • take someone by surprise
  • make someone jump

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

'Startle' comes from the Old English word 'steartlian,' which meant 'to struggle, kick, or stumble.' Over time, the meaning shifted to 'move suddenly in surprise' during the Middle English period, and later developed the transitive sense of 'causing someone to move suddenly in surprise.' The core idea of a quick, involuntary physical reaction has stayed consistent across the word's history.