startlestart‧le /ˈstɑːtl $ ˈstɑːrtl/ ●○○ verb [transitive] 
Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.be startled to do something I was startled to see Amanda.—startled adjective: a startled expression
WORD ORIGINstartle
Origin:
Old English steartlian ‘to kick your legs about’VERB TABLE
startle
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | startle |
| he, she, it | startles | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | startled |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have startled |
| he, she, it | has startled | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had startled |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will startle |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have startled |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am startling |
| he, she, it | is startling | |
| you, we, they | are startling | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was startling |
| you, we, they | were startling | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been startling |
| he, she, it | has been startling | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been startling |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be startling |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been startling |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Any unexpected movements can startle the animal, so it must be approached slowly and steadily.
- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you.
- The noise startled him, and he dropped his glass on the floor.
- You startled me! I didn't hear you come in.
- He was startled out of this sombre reflection by the sudden awareness that something was Not Quite Right.
- She startled people on arrival in Washington in 1932 by calling a news conference before her husband.
- That startled him and she fell out of bed to get out of his way.
- The peacocks are startled out of the shade into the sunlight.
THESAURUS
to make someone feel afraid: · The thought of being in court frightened him.
especially spoken to frighten someone. Scare is less formal than frighten, and is the usual word to use in everyday English: · He was driving fast just to scare us.· It scared him to think that his mother might never recover.
to make someone feel extremely frightened: · The idea of going down into the caves terrified her.· Robbers terrified bank staff by threatening them at gunpoint.
to make someone suddenly feel frightened in a way that makes their heart beat more quickly: · It gave me a terrible fright when I found him unconscious on the floor.
if a person or place gives you the creeps, they make you feel slightly frightened because they are strange: · This house gives me the creeps.
to frighten someone. Used when you suddenly see someone and did not know they were there, or when you suddenly hear something: · I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.· The noise startled him, and he dropped his glass on the floor.
to make someone feel frightened and worried that something bad might happen: · I didn’t want to alarm her by calling in the middle of the night.
to deliberately frighten someone, especially so that they will do what you want: · Many of the gangs were using dogs to intimidate people.
to make someone feel surprised, especially because they did not expect something: · Her reaction surprised me – I didn’t realize how strongly she felt.· What surprised me was how cheap everything was compared to at home.
to greatly surprise someone, for example because something is very good, unusual, or hard to believe: · He amazed everyone with his skill.· It amazes me that no one has thought of the idea before.
to greatly surprise someone: · Myra astonished her doctors by recovering so quickly.
to greatly surprise or shock someone. Astound sounds a little more formal and a little stronger than astonish: · What astounded him was their inefficiency.
to happen at an unexpected time, so that people are surprised or unprepared: · Security men were taken by surprise as the man ran onto the stage.· His resignation took us by surprise.
to make someone feel surprised or slightly frightened by doing something they did not expect: · The wind made the door shut with a crash, which startled her.· Sudden movements may startle the horse.
Longman Language Activatorto make someone feel frightened · Does the thought of death frighten you?· Take that silly mask off -- you're frightening the children.it frightens somebody to know/think etc · It frightens me to know that the rapist still hasn't been caught.frighten the life out of somebody (=make someone feel very frightened) · What are you doing creeping up on me like that? You frightened the life out of me!frighten somebody out of their wits (=make someone feel very frightened) · Film-makers have always known that one way to capture an audience is to frighten it out of its wits. frighten the (living) daylights out of somebody (=make someone feel very frightened) · Melissa spun round to see Eddie standing behind her. "You frightened the daylights out of me!" she gasped. "I never heard you come in."frighten somebody into doing something (=make someone do something by frightening them) · Their lawyers tried to frighten us into signing the contract.frighten somebody off/frighten off somebody (=frighten someone so that they go away or stop trying to do something) · The man pulled out a gun and managed to frighten off his attackers.
especially spoken to make someone feel frightened, especially by making them think something very unpleasant might happen: · He was driving fast just to scare us.· We're not really going to get arrested - I think the police are trying to scare us.it scares somebody to know/think etc: · It scared him to think that his mother might never recover.scare the hell out of somebody (=make someone feel very frightened) informal: · She scared the hell out of me when she said she had to go into hospital.scare the (living) daylights out of somebody (=make someone feel very frightened): · Don't creep up on me like that! You scared the living daylights out of me!
to make someone feel very frightened: · The idea of going down into the caves terrified her.· The teacher terrified her so much, that she hated going to school.· My uncle suffers from agoraphobia, and the idea of leaving the house terrifies him.it terrifies somebody to think/know etc: · It terrified him to think that, in six months' time, he would have to stand up in front of a class and teach them something.
to make someone suddenly feel frightened so that they make a sudden movement or their heart starts beating quickly: · He really gave me a fright when he phoned at that time of night.give somebody a hell of a fright (=make someone suddenly very frightened) informal: · I accidentally touched a live wire in the motor, and even though it didn't hurt me it gave me a hell of a fright.
to make people feel very worried about a possible danger: · We don't wish to alarm people unnecessarily, but it would be wise to avoid drinking the tap water here.· Many women are alarmed by suggestions of a link between the contraceptive pill and breast cancer.
if someone or something startles you, they frighten you because you see them suddenly or hear them when you did not know they were there: · I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you.· The noise startled him, and he dropped his glass on the floor.· Any unexpected movements can startle the animal, so it must be approached slowly and steadily.
to suddenly surprise and frighten someone so that they make a sudden movement: · Sorry! I didn't mean to make you jump.· Something darted out from behind the hedge, and made me jump.
if a person or a place gives you the creeps , they make you feel slightly frightened and nervous because they are strange: · This house gives me the creeps - it's so dark and quiet.· I hate being left alone in the office with Graham - he gives me the creeps.
informal if something such as a story or account makes your hair stand on end it makes you very frightened: · Wait until I tell you about the murder -- it'll make your hair stand on end.· I've heard rumours about how Captain Crayshaw disciplines his crew... things to make your hair stand on end.
if a thought or experience sends shivers down your spine , it makes you feel very frightened especially because it involves someone or something that is very evil: · When you think of what happened in that house, it sends shivers down your spine.· Mere mention of his name is enough to send shivers down the spine of even the most battle-hardened fighter.
if a thought or experience makes your blood run cold , it shocks and frightens you because it is extremely cruel, violent, or dangerous: · The thought of ever returning to the prison makes his blood run cold. · The man stepped forward, and when Amelie saw him give a Nazi salute, it made her blood run cold.
surprised if you are surprised by something that happens, you do not expect it, so it seems strange or unusual: · I was really surprised when I passed my driving test first time.· Carrie looked surprised. "I didn't expect to see you here!"· We couldn't help laughing at the children's surprised faces.surprised to see/hear/learn etc: · We were surprised to see Drew's picture in the newspaper.surprised (that): · I'm really surprised that he remembered my birthday.surprised at: · When I saw him again, I was surprised at how much older he looked.surprised by: · Julia seemed a little surprised by my question.pleasantly surprised (=surprised when something unexpectedly good happens): · His exam results were great - we were all very pleasantly surprised.
use this about something that surprises you so much you almost cannot believe it: · Liz was amazed when she found out how much dinner had cost.amazed that: · I'm amazed that the bank keeps lending him money.amazed to see/learn/find out etc: · We were amazed to see John looking so well, so soon after his operation.amazed at/by: · She couldn't help feeling amazed at his stupidity.amazed by: · You'll be amazed by how much progress we've made.
extremely surprised by something that happens, because it is very unusual or strange: · Mark was astonished when he read the message - what on earth could she mean?· We climbed out of the hole right in front of two astounded policemen.astonished/astounded (that): · It was an extremely nasty accident and I was astonished that anyone had survived it.astonished/astounded at/by: · Everton admits to being astounded at the popularity of the book.astonished/astounded to hear/see/discover etc: · The whole town was astounded to hear of a plan to build an office building right next to the lake.
to be so surprised or shocked by what someone has done or said that, for a moment, you do not know what to say: · I was taken aback to find an elderly woman sitting inside the door of the men's room.be taken aback by: · I was completely taken aback by his aggressive and unreasonable attitude.
especially written surprised and a little frightened or worried because of something that has suddenly happened or something that someone said: · "Have we met somewhere before?" The man looked startled for a moment.startled by: · They were startled by a sudden flash in the sky.
informal so surprised by something that has happened that you do not know what to say: · The delivery men just left the furniture in my front yard. I was flabbergasted.flabbergasted at/by: · Doctors said they were flabbergasted at the decision to close the hospital.
if you can't get over something that has happened, you are so surprised by it that you cannot believe it: · Madge couldn't get over how much Joe had grown since she'd last seen him.· I can't get over how much she eats - why doesn't she gain any weight?
especially spoken say this when you are very surprised by something because it does not seem possible: can't believe it: · I can't believe it! Jane and Richard are getting married.can't believe (that): · She was a brilliant pianist -- we couldn't believe she was only 15.can't believe your eyes/ears: · The letter invited me to fly first class to New York for an interview on Monday - I could not believe my eyes!
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES startling revelations about his backgroundCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
to make someone suddenly surprised or slightly shocked: · After years of research, he reached a startling conclusion.
(=very noticeable and surprising)· The big modern factories make a startling contrast to the opposite side of the road.
(=very surprising)· When they examined the virus, they made a startling discovery.
(=used about something so new and different that it surprises you)· We were amazed by the startling originality of his thinking.
startling revelations about his background· The most startling and lyrical passage is the description of how Dolores was burnt as a baby.· In perhaps his most startling and disturbing model, Thompson created two scenarios.· What's the most startling stash you've found in some one's house?· And, most startling of all, it was an age when people did not kill each other.· The most startling example of how that power works is the story of Anna Chennault and the 1968 election.
· Here's an early, and rather startling, example of the genre.· This is a rather startling admission from a noted tough guy.· Curtis' incipiently multiracial ideas seemed at first rather startling to some other members of the Round.· We proceed from A to B via a rather startling reductio ad absurdum.
· I am sorry my voice is so startling to you.· He was so startled that he dropped the drill.· She is so startled and afraid that she complies.· Perhaps the image is just so startling that it sticks in our minds.· Her beauty was so startling that it mysteriously approached the comic.· Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson was so startled by the sign that he sought out the fan who wrote it.· It's the combination of negative factors that makes this situation so startling.
NOUN· Ian scrutinised the key board closely but was suddenly startled by the shrill sound of the telephone ringing.· For an instant, startled by that snapping sound, he thought he had trodden on a twig.· He was so engrossed in himself that he was startled by the sound of the back door opening just after midnight.
· I am sorry my voice is so startling to you.· The too familiar husky female voice startled her into full wakefulness.· The sound of his voice startled me.
VERB· The small, soft sound took a while to register, and when it did she looked up, startled.· I looked up, startled to find how I had forgotten everything but the antics of these two monstrous beings.· We went into the dining room and Polly looked up, startled.· They look startled at first to see me, a gaijin, but then go about their business.· They looked startled, and exchanged glances.· He looked up startled into their laughter.
· Though winded, the impact seemed to startle him into a state of panic.· We both seemed equally startled to see each other.· The effect of this vision on the handful of monks returning to the monastery might seem a little startling.· Curtis' incipiently multiracial ideas seemed at first rather startling to some other members of the Round.· That the bulk of the first new wave of Wirral's heroin users obtained heroin from a single source might seem startling.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.be startled to do something I was startled to see Amanda.—startled adjective: a startled expression- mass production
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