/ˈstɑːrtl/
star·tle
BrE /ˈstɑːtl/
NAmE /ˈstɑːrtl/
to surprise sb suddenly in a way that slightly shocks or frightens them
~ sb/sth
I didn’t mean to startle you.
The explosion startled the horse.
I was startled by her question.
it startles sb to do sth
It startled me to find her sitting in my office.
surprisestartle ◇ amaze ◇ stun ◇ astonish ◇ take sb aback ◇ astound
These words all mean to make sb feel surprised.
surprise to give sb the feeling that you get when sth happens that you do not expect or do not understand, or sth that you do expect does not happen; to make sb feel surprised：
The outcome didn’t surprise me at all.
startle to surprise sb suddenly in a way that slightly shocks or frightens them：
Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.
The explosion startled the horse.
amaze to surprise sb very much：
Just the huge size of the place amazed her.
stun (rather informal) (often in newspapers) to surprise or shock sb so much that they cannot think clearly or speak
astonish to surprise sb very much：
The news astonished everyone.
amaze or astonish?
These two words have the same meaning and in most cases you can use either. If you are talking about sth that both surprises you and makes you feel ashamed, use astonish.：
He was astonished by his own stupidity.
take sb aback [usually passive] (especially of sth negative) to surprise or shock sb：
We were rather taken aback by her hostile reaction.
astound to surprise or shock sb very much：
His arrogance astounded her.
Patterns
It surprises sb/startles sb/amazes sb/stuns sb/astonishes sb/takes sb aback/astounds sb
to surprise/startle/amaze/stun/astonish/astound sb that…
to surprise/amaze sb what/how…
to surprise/startle/amaze/stun/astonish/astound sb to know/find/learn/see/hear…
to be surprised/startled/stunned into (doing) sth
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star·tled
BrE /ˈstɑːtld/
NAmE /ˈstɑːrtld/
She looked at him with startled eyes.
He looked startled.
She jumped back like a startled rabbit.