51Թ

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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

/ ˈɑːə /

verb

  1. to be or cause to be surprised or frightened, esp so as to start involuntarily
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈٲٱ, noun
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • ٲ·ٱ·Գ noun
  • ٲ·ٱ noun
  • dzܳ·ٲ·ٱ verb (used with object) outstartled outstartling
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of startle1

First recorded before 1100; Middle English stertlen “to rush, caper,” equivalent to stert(en) “to begin, start” ( start + -(e)len -le, or continuing Old English steartlian “to kick, struggle”
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51Թ 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.

It was a startling moment that was emblematic of the attack his presidency has launched against inclusivity programmes that have proliferated in recent years across the US government and corporate world.

From

"They kept on saying: the ring, the ring! And I was so startled that it didn't compute for a minute," she told Letterman.

From

In the initial days after Valerie went missing, other campers spotted her underneath a parked car which startled the dog and sent her fleeing into bushland, the Washington Post reported.

From

The officers appeared startled and possibly even scared by his size.

From

They’re easily startled and may arch their back and splay their hands, as if to say, “The world is stressful for me.”

From

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start in onstartle colour