Startle Definition & Meaning

Recent Examples on the WebVerbAvoid weaving in and out of lanes or riding between vehicles, as this increases the risk of accidents and can startle other motorists.—Thomas J. Henry Personal Injury Law, Dallas News, 31 Aug. 2023Some children may instinctively run toward us, some may freeze and some may startle and cry.—Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2023Shopping for towels at a local megastore, Elise is startled by a shooter firing into the crowd.—Sarah Lyall, New York Times, 15 July 2023Newborn Sleep: What to Expect Between Birth and 3 Months Physical development for 9-week-old babies As your baby develops more physical control, some newborn reactions—such as the Moro (or startle) reflex—will start to fade.—Parents Editors, Parents, 22 June 2023Then, in March, came startling new orders to derail trains carrying weapons to Ukraine.—Mary Ilyushina, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2023He was admired for his supremely orderly mind yet prone to outbursts of temper that startled and dismayed his students.—Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023No injuries were reported on the ground where the slide landed or onboard the aircraft, but the incident startled residents who live below the flight paths to O'Hare.—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 18 July 2023Also startling: Scientists have been pointing to exceptionally low sea ice at both poles.—William Booth, Washington Post, 1 Aug. 2023NounWhen he was told the shot was in, his eyes opened with a startle, then fell toward the floor.—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 10 July 2023Swaddling also helps prevent babies' natural startle reflex from waking them up, and having their arms held down keeps them from scratching themselves with their razor-sharp little newborn nails.—Jessica Hartshorn, Good Housekeeping, 22 Feb. 2023An exaggerated startle response and hypervigilance.—Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 16 Feb. 2023Henning and Muche let out a startle, however, when a beaver struck the bottom of their canoe.—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 2 Oct. 2022And while Levins, 32, of Frankfort, acknowledged the animals may play into some people’s phobias, a startle can be the start of a conversation with one of Crosstown’s handlers.—Bill Jones, chicagotribune.com, 11 Oct. 2021Those penguins themselves had something of the startle of art — the reveal of the ever-present real that’s hidden, paradoxically, by information.—New York Times, 8 July 2020Many of their primitive reflexes, such as sucking and the startle reflex, will remain at this age.—New York Times, 18 Apr. 2020The initial visual startle of her work quickly becomes subcutaneous in feeling: the realm of fantasy and superstition.—Megan O’Grady, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2020See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'startle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.