51³Ō¹Ļ

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View synonyms for

startle

[stahr-tl]

verb (used with object)

startled, startling 
  1. to disturb or agitate suddenly as by surprise or alarm.

    Synonyms: , ,
  2. to cause to start involuntarily, by or as by a sudden shock.



verb (used without object)

startled, startling 
  1. to start involuntarily, as from a shock of surprise or alarm.

noun

  1. a sudden shock of surprise, alarm, or the like.

  2. something that startles.

startle

/ ˈ²õ³ŁÉ‘ː³ŁÉ™±ō /

verb

  1. to be or cause to be surprised or frightened, esp so as to start involuntarily

ā€œCollins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridgedā€ 2012 Digital Edition Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51³Ō¹Ļ Forms

  • startlement noun
  • startler noun
  • outstartle verb (used with object)
  • ˈ²õ³Ł²¹°ł³Ł±ō±š°ł noun
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51³Ō¹Ļ History and Origins

Origin of startle1

First recorded before 1100; Middle English stertlen ā€œto rush, caper,ā€ equivalent to stert(en) ā€œto begin, startā€ ( start + -(e)len -le, or continuing Old English steartlian ā€œto kick, struggleā€
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51³Ō¹Ļ History and Origins

Origin of startle1

Old English steartlian to stumble; related to Middle High German starzen to strut, Norwegian sterta to strain oneself
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Synonym Study

See shock 1.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

At a news conference Thursday, Mayor Karen Bass made a startling claim.

From

That was the startling moment where I realized I personally relate in my darkest moments to a studio executive more than I do a creative person in the industry in many ways.

From

A burglary suspect who was shot and killed in a Lynwood home Thursday morning is believed to have been shot by an accomplice when they were startled by a resident, officials said.

From

Yet in many ways, as startling as that might have seemed, his proposal fit right in with his drive to remove millions of people from the U.S. itself.

From

Border Patrol agents claimed they approached Gomez on a Los Angeles street because he ā€œappeared startled and nervous when he saw the agents,ā€ and abruptly changed course, ā€œmoving away from the agents at accelerating speeds.ā€

From

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start in onstartle colour