1. startle
The sound startled me.
a sudden sound in the doorway startled her
Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.
He was startled by the explosion
She looked up, startled at the change in his voice.
She was concentrating on her book and his voice startled her. The noise of the car startled the birds and the whole flock flew up into the air. Her article on diet startled many people into changing their eating habits.
If your companions suddenly startle and fly away, it...