Startle
verb
To suddenly scare or surprise someone unexpectedly.
The loud noise startled the baby.
Often appears as...
- startle someone
- startle awake
verb
To move suddenly because you are surprised or scared.
I startled when I saw the shadow on the wall.
Often appears as...
- startle at the sound
- startle into action
verb
To suddenly scare or surprise someone unexpectedly.
The loud noise startled the baby.
Often appears as...
- startle someone
- startle awake
verb
To move suddenly because you are surprised or scared.
I startled when I saw the shadow on the wall.
Often appears as...
- startle at the sound
- startle into action
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Intensity Matters
Used when the surprise or fear effect is strong and abrupt, not mild or expected.
The fireworks startled the crowd.
Pro Tip 2/3Unexpected Events
Often used for situations where something happens suddenly and without warning.
A cat leaping out of the bush startled the walker.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Impact
Can imply a range of emotions from mild surprise to intense shock.
He was startled to find his car missing.
Pro Tip 1/3Intensity Matters
Used when the surprise or fear effect is strong and abrupt, not mild or expected.
The fireworks startled the crowd.
Pro Tip 2/3Unexpected Events
Often used for situations where something happens suddenly and without warning.
A cat leaping out of the bush startled the walker.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Impact
Can imply a range of emotions from mild surprise to intense shock.
He was startled to find his car missing.
Pro Tip 1/3Intensity Matters
Used when the surprise or fear effect is strong and abrupt, not mild or expected.
The fireworks startled the crowd.
Pro Tip 2/3Unexpected Events
Often used for situations where something happens suddenly and without warning.
A cat leaping out of the bush startled the walker.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Impact
Can imply a range of emotions from mild surprise to intense shock.
He was startled to find his car missing.
Never forget "Startle"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
How visionary leaders...
an its implied that you're going to follow that with how our data shows that it's this nuance that makes all the difference for your audience it makes the vision credible believable and actionable so let's look at how well-known visionary does this let's take a look at Elon Musk his visions are startling hyper looping from LA to San
Video examples
Deep ocean mysteries and...
which tells us that life really wants to happen. So, pretty amazing stuff. Every time we go to the bottom of the sea, we explore with our submarines, with our robots, we see something that's usually surprising, sometimes it's startling and sometimes revolutionary. You see that puddle of water sitting there.
Video examples
Why should you read...
Herbert's humans conquered the stars without any computers. Following an ancient war with robots, humanity has forbidden the construction of any machine “in the likeness of a human mind.” But rather than stifling their expansion, this edict forced humans to evolve in startling ways—
Video examples
The mathematics of love...
They're a voice that speaks out about the incredible richness of nature and the startling simplicity in the patterns that twist and turn and warp and evolve all around us, from how the world works to how we behave. So I hope that perhaps, for just a couple of you,
Video examples
How squids outsmart...
Some squid species have also developed unique adaptive behaviors. The deep-sea vampire squid, when startled, uses its webbed arms to make a cape it hides behind. The tiny bobtail, on the other hand, tosses sand over its body as it burrows away from prying eyes.
Video examples
How cosmic rays help us...
The startling conclusion was that it wasn't coming from anywhere within the Earth's atmosphere but from outer space. Our universe is composed of many astronomical objects. BIllions of stars of all sizes, black holes, active galactic nuclei,
Video examples
Meet the Vampire Squid PIPE...
that serves as a sensory filament it has a unique ability to react when it is startled it can curl its web and arms around the rest of its body turning sort of inside out this change in appearance may help it avoid being attacked by
Video examples
Paul Tudor Jones II: Why...
And let me just say, this profits mania that we're on is so deeply entrenched that we don't even realize how we're harming society. Here's a small but startling example of exactly how we're doing this chart shows corporate giving
Video examples
Mesmerising Owl Moments...
startles me in daylight they resemble apparitions the closest thing to ghosts in the bird world flying with a supernatural vigilance
Video examples
A Collection Of Autumn...
startles me in daylight they resemble apparitions the closest thing to ghosts in the bird world
Video examples
How visionary leaders...
an its implied that you're going to follow that with how our data shows that it's this nuance that makes all the difference for your audience it makes the vision credible believable and actionable so let's look at how well-known visionary does this let's take a look at Elon Musk his visions are startling hyper looping from LA to San
Video examples
Deep ocean mysteries and...
which tells us that life really wants to happen. So, pretty amazing stuff. Every time we go to the bottom of the sea, we explore with our submarines, with our robots, we see something that's usually surprising, sometimes it's startling and sometimes revolutionary. You see that puddle of water sitting there.
Video examples
Why should you read...
Herbert's humans conquered the stars without any computers. Following an ancient war with robots, humanity has forbidden the construction of any machine “in the likeness of a human mind.” But rather than stifling their expansion, this edict forced humans to evolve in startling ways—
Video examples
The mathematics of love...
They're a voice that speaks out about the incredible richness of nature and the startling simplicity in the patterns that twist and turn and warp and evolve all around us, from how the world works to how we behave. So I hope that perhaps, for just a couple of you,
Video examples
How squids outsmart...
Some squid species have also developed unique adaptive behaviors. The deep-sea vampire squid, when startled, uses its webbed arms to make a cape it hides behind. The tiny bobtail, on the other hand, tosses sand over its body as it burrows away from prying eyes.
Video examples
How cosmic rays help us...
The startling conclusion was that it wasn't coming from anywhere within the Earth's atmosphere but from outer space. Our universe is composed of many astronomical objects. BIllions of stars of all sizes, black holes, active galactic nuclei,
Video examples
Meet the Vampire Squid PIPE...
that serves as a sensory filament it has a unique ability to react when it is startled it can curl its web and arms around the rest of its body turning sort of inside out this change in appearance may help it avoid being attacked by
Video examples
Paul Tudor Jones II: Why...
And let me just say, this profits mania that we're on is so deeply entrenched that we don't even realize how we're harming society. Here's a small but startling example of exactly how we're doing this chart shows corporate giving
Video examples
Mesmerising Owl Moments...
startles me in daylight they resemble apparitions the closest thing to ghosts in the bird world flying with a supernatural vigilance
Video examples
A Collection Of Autumn...
startles me in daylight they resemble apparitions the closest thing to ghosts in the bird world
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Hannah Fry
English Mathematician
Because for me, equations and symbols aren't just a thing. They're a voice that speaks out about the incredible richness of nature and the startling simplicity in the patterns that twist and turn and warp and evolve all around us, from how the world works to how we behave.
Quote examples
Zola Budd
South African Athlete
Coming from a farming background, I saw nothing out of the ordinary in running barefoot, although it seemed to startle the rest of the athletics world. I have always enjoyed going barefoot and when I was growing up I seldom wore shoes, even when I went into town.
Quote examples
George Will
Journalist
Obama, startled that components of government behave as interest groups, seems utterly unfamiliar with public choice theory. It demystifies and de-romanticizes politics by applying economic analysis - how incentives influence behavior - to government.
Quote examples
Hugh Leonard
Irish Dramatist
We were married for almost 45 years. We fought all the time, it wasn't a great love or anything, it wasn't a great, all-consuming passion. She was just there. A lot of people were startled because we didn't seem devoted but we were.
Quote examples
Jim Peebles
Canadian Scientist
We can be very sure that as we discover new aspects of the expanding and evolving universe, we will be startled and amazed once again.
Quote examples
Jenny Slate
American Actress
The experience of the human, male or female, cannot be completely defined by one startling, surprising, or gigantic life experience.
Quote examples
Walt Mossberg
American Journalist
Taken as a whole, consumer technologies have made startling advances, but they still are not as easy to use as they should be.
Quote examples
P. J. O'Rourke
American Comedian
We Americans, who invented traffic, are always being startled by the forms into which it has evolved around the world.
Quote examples
Ralph Waldo Emerson
American Philosopher
A chief event of life is the day in which we have encountered a mind that startled us.
Quote examples
Mira Nair
Indian Director
Truth is more peculiar than fiction. Life is really a startling place.
Quote examples
Hannah Fry
English Mathematician
Because for me, equations and symbols aren't just a thing. They're a voice that speaks out about the incredible richness of nature and the startling simplicity in the patterns that twist and turn and warp and evolve all around us, from how the world works to how we behave.
Quote examples
Zola Budd
South African Athlete
Coming from a farming background, I saw nothing out of the ordinary in running barefoot, although it seemed to startle the rest of the athletics world. I have always enjoyed going barefoot and when I was growing up I seldom wore shoes, even when I went into town.
Quote examples
George Will
Journalist
Obama, startled that components of government behave as interest groups, seems utterly unfamiliar with public choice theory. It demystifies and de-romanticizes politics by applying economic analysis - how incentives influence behavior - to government.
Quote examples
Hugh Leonard
Irish Dramatist
We were married for almost 45 years. We fought all the time, it wasn't a great love or anything, it wasn't a great, all-consuming passion. She was just there. A lot of people were startled because we didn't seem devoted but we were.
Quote examples
Jim Peebles
Canadian Scientist
We can be very sure that as we discover new aspects of the expanding and evolving universe, we will be startled and amazed once again.
Quote examples
Jenny Slate
American Actress
The experience of the human, male or female, cannot be completely defined by one startling, surprising, or gigantic life experience.
Quote examples
Walt Mossberg
American Journalist
Taken as a whole, consumer technologies have made startling advances, but they still are not as easy to use as they should be.
Quote examples
P. J. O'Rourke
American Comedian
We Americans, who invented traffic, are always being startled by the forms into which it has evolved around the world.
Quote examples
Ralph Waldo Emerson
American Philosopher
A chief event of life is the day in which we have encountered a mind that startled us.
Quote examples
Mira Nair
Indian Director
Truth is more peculiar than fiction. Life is really a startling place.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension