startle

Universal Words verb to surprise sb suddenly in a way that slightly shocks or frightens them: [VN] I didn't mean to startle you. * The explosion startled the horse. * I was startled by her question. * [VNtoinf] It startled me to find her sitting in my office. startled adjective: She looked at him with startled eyes. * He looked startled. * She jumped back like a startled rabbit.