sudden

[ suhd-n ]

adjective

1. happening, coming, made, or done quickly, without warning, or unexpectedly:

   a sudden attack.

   Antonyms: gradual

2. occurring without transition from the previous form, state, etc.; abrupt:

   a sudden turn.

   Antonyms: gradual

3. impetuous; rash.
4. Archaic. quickly made or provided.
5. Obsolete. unpremeditated.

adverb

1. Literary. without warning; suddenly.

noun

1. Obsolete. an unexpected occasion or occurrence.

sudden

/ ˈsʌdən /

adjective

1. occurring or performed quickly and without warning
2. marked by haste; abrupt
3. rare.
   rash; precipitate

noun

1. archaic.
   an abrupt occurrence or the occasion of such an occurrence (in the phrase on a sudden )
2. all of a sudden
   without warning; unexpectedly

adverb

1. poetic.
   without warning; suddenly

Derived Forms

• ˈsuddenness, noun

Other Words From

• sudden·ly adverb
• sudden·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sudden¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English adjective and adverb sodain, soden, sodan(e), from Middle French soudain, from Vulgar Latin subitānus, from Latin subitāneus “going or coming stealthily,” equivalent to subitus “sudden, arising without warning” + -āneus composite adjective suffix, equivalent to -ānus + -eus; subito, -an, -eous

Word History and Origins

Origin of sudden¹

C13: via French from Late Latin subitāneus, from Latin subitus unexpected, from subīre to happen unexpectedly, from sub- secretly + īre to go

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. all of a sudden, without warning; unexpectedly; suddenly. Also on a sudden.

More idioms and phrases containing sudden

see all of a sudden .

Synonym Study

Sudden, unexpected, abrupt describe acts, events, or conditions for which there has been no preparation or gradual approach. Sudden refers to the quickness of an occurrence, although the event may have been expected: a sudden change in the weather. Unexpected emphasizes the lack of preparedness for what occurs or appears: an unexpected crisis. Abrupt characterizes something involving a swift adjustment; the effect is often unpleasant, unfavorable, or the cause of dismay: He had an abrupt change in manner. The road came to an abrupt end.

Example Sentences

Because they stopped and I thought, “OK, that makes sense,” and then all of a sudden I saw another issue!

From The Daily Beast

Investigators will focus on whether the sudden emergency was so extreme that no degree of pilot skill would have helped.

From The Daily Beast

Airline pilots are now slowly, too slowly, being given access to flight simulators able to reproduce sudden and unexpected upsets.

From The Daily Beast

People will always scratch and save if a sudden burst of unrestrained pleasure can be purchased.

From The Daily Beast

Liu had been married just two months before and his wife now stood in this Brooklyn hospital, a sudden widow because of a madman.

From The Daily Beast

The noise of his slumbers culminated in a sudden, choking grunt, and abruptly ceased.

From Project Gutenberg

The sudden pall of darkness in this strange house of mystery was just a tiny bit awesome.

From Project Gutenberg

While you were admiring the long roll of the wave, a sudden spray would be dashed over you, and make you catch your breath!

From Project Gutenberg

They were a well-matched pair; iron-nerved, both of them, the sort of men to face sudden death open-eyed and unafraid.

From Project Gutenberg

Aristide, aglow with a sudden impudent inspiration, leant across the marble table.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abrupt
• hasty
• immediate
• precipitous
• quick
• rapid
• swift
• unforeseen
• unusual