jump scare
noun
in a movie or video game, a sudden movement, appearance, or loud sound meant to startle the viewer.
jump scares
-
pluralof jump scare.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
Is it any wonder that “Widow’s Bay,” which miraculously serves up equal portions of jump scares and belly laughs, is this season’s hottest series?
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
“Widow’s Bay” has its share of jump scares, but for the most part, its frights are bearable and its symbols are heavier on text as opposed to subtext.
From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2026
Unlike traditional horror that mixes dark visuals with jump scares, in “Backrooms” the long hallways and blind corners are starkly lighted and terror builds slowly.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026
The series, which is narrated by Maya Hawke, features traditional elements of a nature documentary, but there’s also suspenseful music, jump scares and a narrative structure that you’d expect from a traditional horror movie.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2025
Ridley Scott’s first foray into this world operates like a claustrophobic thriller, plying stretches of unsettling quiet with jump scares within a labyrinth of sweating pipes, sweaty humans and darkness.
From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2025
