Phrase guide

jump scare

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A sudden, unexpected and startling event in media designed to frighten the audience.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: broadcasting, film, human-sciences, linguistics, media, narratology, sciences, television, video-games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The sudden arrival or advent of something unpleasant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, figuratively, humorous

Examples

  • white woman jump scare

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A fright caused by this.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • The loud knock at the door gave me a terrible jump scare.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To frighten (an audience) by means of something that happens suddenly without warning.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: broadcasting, film, media, television, video-games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

25 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: стреж (strež) — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Chinese Mandarin: 跳臉 /跳脸 (tiàoliǎn) — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Chinese Mandarin: 突臉 /突脸 (tūliǎn) — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Finnish: säikäytys — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • French: jump scare — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Indonesian: lonjak takut — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Indonesian: peranjatan — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Japanese: ジャンプスケア (janpu sukea) — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Korean: 점프 스케어 (jeompeu seukeeo) — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Polish: jump scare — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Russian: скри́мер (skrímer) — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Spanish: susto repentino — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Spanish: trabucazo — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Spanish: sobresalto — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Spanish: aguadón súbito — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Spanish: quisa subitánea — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Spanish: naco brusco — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Spanish: julepe abrupto — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Spanish: jumpscare — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Thai: จัมป์สแกร์ (jám-sà-gɛ̄ɛ) — a technique to suddenly scare the audience
  • Polish: przestraszać jump scare'em — Translations
  • Polish: przestraszyć jump scare'em — Translations
  • Spanish: asustar repentinamente — Translations
  • Spanish: dar un trabucazo — Translations
  • Spanish: sobresaltar — Translations