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Showing results for all of a sudden. Search instead for All+Of+A+Sudden.
Synonyms

all of a sudden

Idioms  
  1. Entirely without warning, abruptly, as in All of a sudden the lights went out. In Shakespeare's day the common phrase was of a sudden, the word all being added in the late 1600s. Also see all at once, def. 2.


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.

"It's a funny thing to see someone that you have watched their serve on TV for so many years, and then all of a sudden that serve is coming at you," he explained.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

“Football’s all of a sudden starting to reckon with the new climate realities,” said Elliot Arthur-Worsop, founding director of Football For Future, a pioneering U.K. nonprofit and co-publisher of “Pitches in Peril.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

“We’ve been having this conversation for 50 years. Why is it all of a sudden a problem now?”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

“Our companies have pricing power but have never used it because it was seen as un-Japanese to raise prices. Now, all of a sudden, it is acceptable,” says Heck.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

The lesson here IS that your happiest memories can become your saddest all of a sudden.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

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