startled
/ˈstɑːtld/ (bre, ipa) · [stˈɑrtəld] /ˈstɑːrtld/ (ame, ipa) · [stˈɑrtəld] /ˈstär-tᵊl How to pronounce startle (audio)/ (ame, mw)
startled — adjective
- startledpositive
- more startledcomparative
- most startledsuperlative
1. feeling suddenly surprised and a little afraid because something happened withou
feeling suddenly surprised and a little afraid because something happened without warning
Haruto looked startled when the kitchen timer rang beside his elbow.
look + startled after a sudden sound
The hikers seemed startled as a deer burst from the dark bushes.
Justin sounded startled after the late-night call woke the whole house.
Rafael gave a startled laugh when cold rain hit his neck.
文法句型
be/look/sound startled
startled by/at something
a startled + noun
用法筆記
Common after look, sound, seem, and feel, and also before nouns like expression, glance, or laugh. Use this adjective for the person or animal reacting; use startling for the thing that causes the shock.
常見錯誤
startled — verb
- startledpresent simple I / you / we / they
- startleds3rd person singular
- startleding-ing form
- startlededpast simple
1. to jerk, jump, or pull back suddenly because something unexpected has made you a
to jerk, jump, or pull back suddenly because something unexpected has made you alert or briefly afraid
The horse startled at the crack of the gate behind it.
startled at + sudden sound
Yael startled and nearly spilled her soup when the lights went out.
A squirrel startled at the bark and shot up the tree.
Vivek startled awake when the train brakes screamed outside.
文法句型
startled at something
startled and + verb
startled awake
用法筆記
Here the person or animal is the subject. It often appears with at, awake, or a following action that shows the jump. Compare sense 2, where the sudden event or action startles someone else.
常見錯誤
2. to surprise or frighten someone or an animal for a moment, often with a noise, t
to surprise or frighten someone or an animal for a moment, often with a noise, touch, or quick movement
The alarm startled Defne before sunrise, and she sat up at once.
something startled someone
A hand on his shoulder startled Andrei in the crowded lift.
The dropped tray startled the baby, but he stopped crying soon.
Amihan did not mean to startle the nurse when she opened the curtain.
文法句型
something startled someone
be startled by something
startle someone awake
用法筆記
In this sense, the subject is the thing that causes the reaction, while the object is the person or animal who feels it. Distinguish it from sense 1, where the startled person or animal is the subject.
常見錯誤
startled — noun
1. a quick, mild feeling of shock that passes almost at once after something unexpe
a quick, mild feeling of shock that passes almost at once after something unexpected happens
The bang at the window gave Tunde a startle before bedtime.
give someone a startle
After the first startle, Élise laughed at the toy spider.
Christopher felt a small startle as the cold wave touched his feet.
The puppy's startle passed once it saw the children smiling.
文法句型
a startle
give someone a startle
after the first startle
用法筆記
Much less common than the adjective or verb. Everyday English more often says a start or uses be startled, but this noun still appears in descriptive writing and in phrases such as startle response.