spooked

word · lemma: spook

/ˈspukt/
/spˈuːkt/

Definition

Feeling suddenly afraid or startled, often by something unexpected. Often used to describe people or animals who are easily scared.

Usage & Nuances

"Spooked" is informal and used mostly in speech. It can describe both mild and strong fear, especially sudden fright. Common collocations: 'got spooked', 'easily spooked', 'spooked by'. Often used for animals (like horses) and people.

Example Sentences

The cat got spooked by the loud noise.

basic

He looked spooked when I called his name.

basic

The horse was too spooked to go any further.

basic

She gets spooked easily when watching horror movies.

natural

Something must have spooked him—he left in a real hurry.

natural

Sorry, you spooked me standing there in the dark!

natural