Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Feeling or showing sudden shock, alarm, or surprise: Describes the state of being suddenly and momentarily frightened or surprised, often causing a quick, involuntary physical reaction.

Usage

The adjective "startled" is used to describe a person, animal, or sometimes their expression/reaction when something sudden and unexpected causes a brief moment of fear or surprise. It implies a temporary, instinctive response.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The students were startled by the teacher's quiet return.
  • We saw the startled pigeons take flight from the roof.
  • She had a startled expression when she heard the loud noise behind her.

Advanced Usage

• "to be startled by/at something": This is the most common construction to indicate the cause of the surprise.

  • He was startled by the sound of breaking glass.
  • She was startled at the sight of the large spider.

• "to be startled into (doing) something": To be surprised or shocked into a particular action.

  • The loud bang startled him into dropping his cup.
  • The question startled her into silence.

Variants and Related Words

• Startle (verb): To cause someone to feel sudden shock or alarm.

  • The dog's bark startled the cat.

• Startling (adjective): Causing sudden surprise, alarm, or wonder; very surprising.

  • The news report contained startling new information.

Synonyms

• Shocked: Affected with sudden and great surprise or horror.
• Alarmed: Frightened or disturbed by a sudden awareness of danger.
• Surprised: Feeling or showing surprise because something has happened that you did not expect.
• Aghast: Filled with horror or shock.

Antonyms

• Unfazed: Not disconcerted or perturbed.
• Unsurprised: Not feeling or showing surprise.
• Calm: Not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other strong emotions.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• To give someone a start: To startle someone.

  • You gave me a start sneaking up like that!

• Jump out of one's skin: To be extremely startled (idiomatic).

  • The explosion was so loud I nearly jumped out of my skin.

Adjective

1. excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
   • students startled by the teacher's quiet return
   • the sudden fluttering of the startled pigeons
   • her startled expression