startle (B2)
verb
Pronunciation: /ˈstɑːrtəl/
Definition
To cause a person or animal to feel sudden shock or alarm.
Examples
The sudden appearance of the ghost in the movie was enough to startle the audience.
He didn't mean to startle her, but he accidentally dropped a book behind her.
The loud bang from the car backfiring made the horses startle and run.
How to Use startle
- startle someone (collocation)
- To suddenly shock or alarm a person. — "The loud noise from the construction site startled the pedestrians."
- startle into (prepositional phrase)
- To cause someone to react suddenly and do something. — "The unexpected question startled him into admitting the truth."
Synonyms of startle
Words with a similar meaning to startle:
Antonyms of startle
Words with the opposite meaning to startle:
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