startle
verb (used with object)
to disturb or agitate suddenly as by surprise or alarm.
were startling
-
past progressiveof startle.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
The speed differentials at the start were startling.
From BBC ● Mar. 8, 2026
Substack plays an important role in this story, and even to media professionals its appearance and prominence over the past few years were startling and unexpected.
From Salon ● Feb. 2, 2025
Shiffrin’s Beijing opening race results were startling and newsworthy, and her dejected, side-of-the-course reaction to a second fall in three days was heartbreaking.
From New York Times ● Feb. 16, 2022
This was probably a mistake, because soon they were startling onlookers by drawing on their eyes.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 24, 2021
The lenses made his blue-green irises seem so large they were startling.
From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
