startled

American

[stahr-tld] / ˈstɑr tld /

adjective

disturbed or agitated suddenly, as by surprise or alarm.

Seeing startled herons and egrets flee at the sound of 35 teenagers was a highlight for kids who rarely see birds in their natural habitat.
expressing such surprise or alarm.

A startled cry escaped my throat as I was roughly pulled to my feet by the bodyguard.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of startle.

Other Word Forms

unstartled

adjective

Etymology

Origin of startled

startle ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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.

In a move that startled many customers, sustainable fashion retailer Everlane has been acquired by Shein.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

Cenet said he was startled to see that "everyday life continued" on the ship after the captain's announcement.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

I was surprised to see “Lorne” touch on both of these factors, and even more startled to find myself respecting Michaels’ reluctance to apologize for any of his decisions.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026

As Alpha waits for the results of blood tests, she is startled by the sudden appearance of a gaunt, jittery stranger in their apartment.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Waiting for her to catch up, he was startled to see that her lips had a bluish tinge.

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