# startle

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈstɑːt(ə)l/ · frequency rank #42,422

## Definitions
1. To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling alarm; to start.
2. To excite by sudden alarm, surprise, or apprehension; to frighten suddenly and not seriously; to alarm; to surprise.
3. To deter; to cause to deviate.

## Etymology
From Middle English startlen, stertlen, stertyllen (“to rush, stumble along”), from Old English steartlian (“to kick with the foot, struggle, stumble”), equivalent to start + -le. Cognate with Old Norse stirtla (“to hobble, stagger”), Icelandic stirtla (“to straighten up, erect”). Compare also Middle English stertil (“hasty”). More at start.

## Easily confused with
- **state** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/startle-vs-state)
- **statue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/startle-vs-statue)
- **starve** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/startle-vs-starve)
- **startup** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/startle-vs-startup)
- **sterile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/startle-vs-sterile)
- **startled** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/startle-vs-startled)
- **start** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-startle)
- **stare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/stare-vs-startle)
- **stale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/stale-vs-startle)
- **stable** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/stable-vs-startle)
- **staple** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/staple-vs-startle)
- **Searle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/searle-vs-startle)
- **started** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/started-vs-startle)
- **Seattle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/seattle-vs-startle)
- **starter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/starter-vs-startle)
- **sparkle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sparkle-vs-startle)
- **smartly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smartly-vs-startle)
- **starlet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/starlet-vs-startle)
- **starkly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/starkly-vs-startle)

## Common misspellings (11)
`satrtle`, `sstartle`, `starlte`, `starrtle`, `startel`, `startlle`, `starttle`, `statrle`, `stratle`, `sttartle`, `tsartle`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/startle