verb
startle
STAHTL
verb
1
To give someone a sudden shock or fright, usually without real danger.
"The fire alarm startled everyone in the office."
"A loud bang from the kitchen startled the cat."
noun
1
A sudden jolt of surprise or alarm.
"She let out a startle when the phone rang unexpectedly."
How to Use Startle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo give someone a quick, unexpected fright.
Common mistake
Startle usually implies a brief, harmless shock, not lasting fear — that would be "scare" or "terrify."
Common pairings
startle someone
easily startled
Word Forms
startled past tense, startles plural, startles singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “startle”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The fire alarm _____ everyone in the office.
Etymology
From Old English steartlian, "to kick or struggle suddenly" — related to start in its older sense of jerking or flinching.