MEANING
To cause a sudden involuntary reaction through an unexpected stimulus.
Use it for
abrupt sensory interruption; low trigger thresholdSeparate the initial reflex from the later interpretation.
Words that belong together
- startle someone awake
- startle easily
- startled by a noise
On the page
The dropped tray startled her into spilling the tea.
He startled at the knock, then relaxed when he heard his sister’s voice.
A bright flash startled the horses before the thunder arrived.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- startle / startles
- Past tense
- startled
- Past participle
- startled
- Present participle
- startling
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- startle / startles
- Present continuous
- am/is/are startling
- Present perfect
- have/has startled
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been startling
- Past
- startled
- Past continuous
- was/were startling
- Past perfect
- had startled
- Past perfect continuous
- had been startling
- Future
- will startle / startles
- Future continuous
- will be startling
- Future perfect
- will have startled
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been startling
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: fear. Surprise, not fear, is the core; startling may lead to fear if the stimulus suggests danger. Also used intransitively. Verb forms (base, third-person singular, past, past participle, -ing): startle, startles, startled, startled, startling.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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