abruptly

American  

[uh-bruhpt-lee] / əˈbrʌpt li /

adverb

1. without warning; suddenly or unexpectedly.

   Not noticing that the car in front of him had stopped abruptly, he rear-ended it.

2. in few words and without using any polite formulas; brusquely.

   My 14-year-old son was calling; as soon as I picked up, he asked abruptly, “How long till you get home?”

3. steeply; sharply.

   At one end, the meadow flowed into a large valley; at the other, it dropped off abruptly in a cliff.

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Other Word Forms

• unabruptly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of abruptly

abrupt ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

If the weather changes abruptly, from bright and sunny to pouring down rain, you're going to get wet. When something happens abruptly, it is sudden and unexpected. Almost anything can change abruptly, and it will always take you by surprise, whether it's the movement of a car, the mood of a movie, or the behavior of your dog. If you've ever had a conversation with someone who spoke to you abruptly, you may have found them a little rude. A physical attribute can also be described as abrupt, like when the edge of a rocky cliff drops abruptly to the ocean.

Example Sentences

Abruptly capping wells is geologically hazardous: sudden pressure drops clog wellbores with heavy waxes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Abruptly, the sound of police radios in the distance brought all conversation to an end.

From BBC • Aug. 5, 2025

Abruptly subtracting a million or more would have the opposite effect.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2024

Abruptly stopping some medications may cause withdrawal effects.

From Salon • Sep. 18, 2023

Abruptly, the engine stopped, and an oppressive calm replaced the previous cacophony.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Related Words

• all of a sudden
• precipitously
• suddenly
• unexpectedly