Startle
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈstɑːt(ə)l/ · Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Startle is a verb meaning (intransitive) To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling alarm; to start.
Meaning
(intransitive) To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling alarm; to start.
More Meanings
- (transitive) To excite by sudden alarm, surprise, or apprehension; to frighten suddenly and not seriously; to alarm; to surprise.
- (transitive, obsolete) To deter; to cause to deviate.
- A sudden motion or shock caused by an unexpected alarm, surprise, or apprehension of danger.
Example Sentences
a horse that startles easily
Why shrinks the soul / Back on herself, and startles at destruction?
it would blast all their hopes, and startle all other princes from joining
The supposition, at least, that angels do sometimes assume bodies need not startle us.
Word Forms
- startles
- startling
- startled
Synonyms for startle
Depending on context, synonyms include start, alarm, frighten, scare, surprise, deter.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include jump, start, galvanize, shock, frighten, fear.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.