startle
Americanverb (used with object)
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startles,
present (3rd person singular)
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startled,
past participle, past
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startling
present participle
verb (used without object)
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startles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
startled,
past participle, past
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startling
present participle
noun
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a sudden shock of surprise, alarm, or the like.
-
something that startles.
verb
Synonym Usage
See shock 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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startlesimple
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startlessimple
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have startledperfect
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has startledperfect
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am startlingprogressive
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are startlingprogressive
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is startlingprogressive
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have been startlingperfect progressive
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has been startlingperfect progressive
Past
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startledsimple
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had startledperfect
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was startlingprogressive
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were startlingprogressive
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had been startlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of startle
First recorded before 1100; Middle English stertlen “to rush, caper,” equivalent to stert(en) “to begin, start” ( see start + -(e)len -le, or continuing Old English steartlian “to kick, struggle”
Explanation
To startle is to jump, like when you're surprised. If you’re sneaking through a dark room and step on a sleeping dog’s tail — you might startle the dog. If she barks, that dog startles you right back! A startle is a quick, sharp movement, like a little jump that happens when you’re surprised or suddenly scared. If you sneak up on your mom and say "Boo!" you’ll startle her and she might jump up in her seat (before she yells at you to quit it). Alarm clocks and barking dogs often startle people. The original meaning of startle, around 1300, was "to run back and forth," from the Old English word styrtan, "to leap up."
Vocabulary lists containing startle
"All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury
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The Circuit
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"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," Vocabulary from Act 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Researchers think these markings may help startle predators.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026
“Sudden explosive noise, concussive blasts, and bright flashes have the potential to startle young birds, creating unnecessary risk during a critical period of development.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
Percussion instruments—including a whistle and slap-stick—interrupt and startle.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
It triggers an automatic "startle response" to any loud noise.
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2026
Should I move recklessly, I might startle even the idea of her into sudden flight.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
More than 60 years on, the scene still startles.
From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2026
I am not sure what startles more—that the feat was achieved at all or that it was Mr. Koolhaas’s firm that pulled it off.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026
When finally you see it, however, the pose chosen for the portrait startles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2023
It startles you and prompts you to cast off the self-centered tendency to always be imposing your opinions on things.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 6, 2023
As a frightened bird caught inside a house startles one person after another, the news stirs up the servants and nuns alike.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
While holding Gnocchi, a large street cleaning truck whipped down the street and startled him into clawing away.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
"The two US deportees looked startled and kept asking which country is this and where it is," said a source.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
"I was startled awake and immediately went to my child's room," he said.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Mark Chamberlin, the school’s controller between 2021 and 2023, said he was startled by how weak financial management was, with few internal controls, poor record-keeping and few consequences when overspending came to light.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
Camilla was so startled, she forgot to be seasick.
From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck
This past week, the German government made an announcement that was both startling and unsurprising.
From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2026
But that is by design, said INRIA's Serena Ivaldi, as the robots "have to act in human environments" without startling the people they help.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
Airlink's flying feat divided opinion with some labelling the startling manoeuvre reckless, while others praised the precision and expertise on display.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
It closed up 81.24 points for the week, or a startling 10.3%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
Without warning, the sound had brought startling vision to his mind.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
