0%

startle

star·tle
S s

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [stahr-tl]
    • /ˈstɑr tl/
    • /ˈstɑː.tl̩/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [stahr-tl]
    • /ˈstɑr tl/

Definitions of startle word

  • verb with object startle to disturb or agitate suddenly as by surprise or alarm. 1
  • verb with object startle to cause to start involuntarily, by or as by a sudden shock. 1
  • verb without object startle to start involuntarily, as from a shock of surprise or alarm. 1
  • noun startle a sudden shock of surprise, alarm, or the like. 1
  • noun startle something that startles. 1
  • transitive verb startle surprise, alarm 1
See all 11 definitions of startle

Information block about the term

Origin of startle

First appearance:

before 1100
One of the 6% oldest English words
before 1100; Middle English stertlen to rush, caper, equivalent to stert(en) to start + -(e)len -le, or continuing Old English steartlian to kick, struggle

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Startle

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of Startle

startle popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 91% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

startle usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for startle

verb startle

  • affright — to frighten
  • alarm — Alarm is a feeling of fear or anxiety that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen.
  • amaze — If something amazes you, it surprises you very much.
  • ask for it — to put a question to; inquire of: I asked him but he didn't answer.
  • astonish — If something or someone astonishes you, they surprise you very much.
All 75 Synonyms of startle

Top questions with startle

  • when does startle reflex stop?
  • when does the startle reflex go away?
  • when does startle reflex disappear?
  • when do babies lose startle reflex?
  • when does startle reflex go away?
  • when do babies grow out of the startle reflex?
  • what does startle mean?
  • when does the startle reflex stop?
  • startle reflex when falling asleep?
  • when does startle reflex in babies stop?
  • what is another name for the startle reflex?
  • how to stop baby startle reflex?
  • why does my baby startle in her sleep?
  • what is startle response?
  • how to startle someone?

Related words

  • goose

    any of numerous wild or domesticated, web-footed swimming birds of the family Anatidae, especially of the genera Anser and Branta, most of which are larger and have a longer neck and legs than the ducks.

  • shock

    a thick, bushy mass, as of hair.

  • astonish

    If something or someone astonishes you, they surprise you very much.

  • behavior

    People's or animals' behavior is the way that they behave. You can refer to a typical and repeated way of behaving as a behavior.

  • frighten

    to make afraid or fearful; throw into a fright; terrify; scare.

  • galvanize

    to stimulate by or as if by a galvanic current.
All related words to startle

See also

Matching words

Was this page helpful?
Yes No
Thank you for your feedback! Tell your friends about this page
Tell us why?