Word
startle
Phoneticsstar·tle, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈstɑɹtəɫ/
UK/stˈɑːtəl/
Definition
v. to surprise someone suddenly, often making them jump or feel a little bit scared for a moment.
v. to cause a sudden shock or alarm, typically resulting in an involuntary physical movement. Often used in the passive voice to describe a person's reaction to an unexpected stimulus.
Examples
“The loud noise from the street startles the sleeping cat.”
“I did not mean to startle you when I walked into the room so quietly.”
“The sudden flash of lightning was enough to startle the horses, causing them to bolt across the open field before the riders could react.”
Examples
simple
“The loud noise from the street startles the sleeping cat.”
contextual
“I did not mean to startle you when I walked into the room so quietly.”
complex
“The sudden flash of lightning was enough to startle the horses, causing them to bolt across the open field before the riders could react.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “startle” in context.
Noun
01. easily startle
“Be careful not to make any sudden movements, as the horses easily startle.”
adv + verb
02. slightly startle
“The unexpected tap on her shoulder slightly startled her.”
adv + verb
03. startle at
“The deer startled at the sound of a snapping twig.”
verb + prep
04. startle into
“The loud alarm startled him into consciousness.”
verb + prep
05. visibly startle
“He was visibly startled by the sudden sound of the glass breaking.”
adv + verb
06. be easily startled
“Small birds are easily startled by the slightest movement.”
07. startle someone awake
“A thunderclap startled her awake in the middle of the night.”
08. startle someone out of
“The phone ringing startled him out of his deep thoughts.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object; frequently appears in the passive form 'to be startled by'.
Real-World Examples
“When Hofmann stepped into his sitting room, he was startled by how completely it seemed to have changed.” “Your response, and that of your family, will be the same: You will stop, freeze and then move to safety. With this study, we show in flies that a rapid release of the chemical serotonin in their nervous system drives that initial freeze. And because serotonin also exists in people, these findings shed light on what may be going on when we get startled as well.” “From your weight and facial expressions to your destination, cars collect a startling amount of data about you.” “In March, Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda startled markets by suggesting the central bank might contemplate exiting its ultra-loose policy if inflation reached its 2 percent target, as anticipated for the fiscal year ending March 2020.” Etymology
From Middle English startlen, stertlen, stertyllen (“to rush, stumble along”), from Old English steartlian (“to kick with the foot, struggle, stumble”), equivalent to start + -le. Cognate with Old Norse stirtla (“to hobble, stagger”), Icelandic stirtla (“to straighten up, erect”). Compare also Middle English stertil (“hasty”). More at start.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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