Definition

1. Verb (transitive):

   • To cause a sudden, brief feeling of surprise or alarm in someone, often resulting in a quick physical reaction.
   • To stimulate or provoke someone into action through a sudden shock or surprise.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To react with a sudden, brief movement or jump due to surprise or alarm.

3. Noun (rare):

   • A sudden involuntary movement caused by surprise or alarm; a start.

Usage and Examples

• Verb (transitive):

  • The loud noise startled the cat. (It caused the cat to jump in alarm.)
  • She startled me when she tapped me on the shoulder. (She caused me to feel a sudden surprise.)
  • The news startled him into action. (The surprising news provoked him to act immediately.)

• Verb (intransitive):

  • I startle easily when I'm concentrating. (I react with a jump easily when surprised.)
  • He startled awake at the sound of thunder. (He woke up suddenly and with alarm due to the thunder.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be startled": This is the common passive/participial adjective form describing the state of having been surprised.
  • She looked startled by the question. (Her expression showed she was surprised by the question.)
• "startling" (adjective): Very surprising, shocking, or alarming.
  • The report contained startling new evidence. (The evidence in the report was very surprising.)

Variants and Related Words

• Startlingly (adverb): In a very surprising or shocking manner.
  • The results were startlingly different.
• Startler (noun, informal): Something or someone that causes a startle.
  • That sudden quiz was a real startler.

Synonyms

• Alarm: To cause sudden fear or anxiety.
• Frighten: To make afraid, often more intense and lasting than startle.
• Surprise: To cause to feel mild astonishment or shock.
• Shock: To cause a sudden, intense surprise or dismay.

Antonyms

• Calm: To make peaceful or quiet.
• Soothe: To gently calm or relieve.

Related Phrases

• Give someone a start: To cause someone to startle.
  • You gave me a start sneaking up like that! (You made me jump in surprise.)
• Jump out of one's skin: An idiom for being extremely startled.
  • I nearly jumped out of my skin when the fire alarm went off.

Noun

1. a sudden involuntary movement
   • he awoke with a start

Verb

1. move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm
   • She startled when I walked into the room
2. to stimulate to action
   • ..startled him awake
   • galvanized into action