Spooking: meaning, definitions and examples

causing fright

Spooking is the act of startling or frightening someone or something. It often occurs unexpectedly and can evoke a strong emotional reaction. The term is commonly used in contexts involving animals, where a sudden noise or movement might cause panic or alarm. In a broader sense, spooking can refer to causing anxiety or fear in people, often related to unexpected events or situations.

alarm, frighten, scare, startle, terrify.

Examples of usage

• The loud noise from the construction site spooked the birds.

• He managed to spook his friends with a well-timed jump scare.

• The sudden movement of the deer spooked the hikers.

• She didn’t mean to spook the horse when she approached it.

• The ghost story was enough to spook the children before bedtime.