abrupt
Americanadjective
-
sudden or unexpected.
an abrupt departure.
- Antonyms:
- gradual
-
curt or brusque in speech, manner, etc..
an abrupt reply.
- Antonyms:
- courteous, patient, deliberate
-
terminating or changing suddenly.
an abrupt turn in a road.
- Antonyms:
- gradual
-
having many sudden changes from one subject to another; lacking in continuity or smoothness.
an abrupt writing style.
- Synonyms:
- uneven, broken, discontinuous
-
steep; precipitous.
an abrupt descent.
-
Botany. truncate.
adjective
-
sudden; unexpected
-
brusque or brief in speech, manner, etc; curt
-
(of a style of writing or speaking) making sharp transitions from one subject to another; disconnected
-
precipitous; steep
-
botany shaped as though a part has been cut off; truncate
-
geology (of strata) cropping out suddenly
Related Words
See sudden.
Other Word Forms
- abruptly adverb
- abruptness noun
Etymology
Origin of abrupt
First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin abruptus “broken off”(past participle of abrumpere ), equivalent to ab- ab- + -rup- “break” + -tus past participle suffix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As one of the corporation's high profile names, his abrupt departure is a fresh blow for the BBC - the last for the current director general Tim Davie, who leaves the corporation later this week.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
North Korea's abrupt border closure in 2020 stranded many of them abroad for years, and Pyongyang later beefed up defences along the frontier to dissuade illegal crossings.
From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026
“Bridgerton” Season 4 concluded with Francesca dealing with the sudden death of her husband, played by Victor Alli, as well as Michaela’s abrupt decision to leave London, despite her promise to stay.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026
In a filing, the Justice Department accepted a court’s appointment of Robert Frazer as head of New Jersey’s U.S. attorney’s office, an abrupt reversal of its assertion that courts have no such power.
From Slate • Mar. 24, 2026
The abrupt change of subject made the old lady raise her eyebrows.
From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
