The dog barked loudly, startling the sleeping cat.

Meaning: The dog made a loud, short sound, causing the cat that was resting with its eyes closed to suddenly feel surprised or shocked.

Choice of Words: The verb barked means to make a short, sharp sound, typically by a dog. Loudly means with a lot of noise. Startling means causing sudden surprise or shock. Sleeping means in a state of rest with the eyes closed. Cat is a small, furry animal that is often kept as a pet.

Alternative Expressions

Related Expressions