dude

American  

[dood, dyood] / dud, dyud /

noun

1. a man excessively concerned with his clothes, grooming, and manners.

2. Slang

   1. a fellow; chap.

   2. (a general term of address used to a man, woman, or group).

3. a person reared in a large city.

4. Western U.S. an urban Easterner who vacations on a ranch.

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interjection

1. Slang (an expression of shock, approval, sympathy, or other strong feeling).

   Dude! That's one expensive sandwich!

verb phrase

1. dude up to dress in one's fanciest, best, or most stylish clothes; dress up.

   He got all duded up to go to the dance.

dude British  

/ duːd, djuːd /

noun

1. a city dweller, esp one holidaying on a ranch

2. a dandy

3. a person: often used to any male in direct address

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Other Word Forms

• dudish adjective
• dudishly adverb

Etymology

Origin of dude

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

“I love you” can be the three most difficult words for some dudes to say.

From The Wall Street Journal

At this, America’s hockey dudes laughed dutifully and dude-ily, unaware of how disgusting people would find this tidbit of locker room talk.

From Salon

A perversity in the script is that Frank is a manipulator and a gaslighter but overall a pretty good dude.

From Los Angeles Times

There was a lot of figuring out my life in the first two albums — I’m begging for this dude or I’m staying with this guy way too long.

From Los Angeles Times

He made sure he had a GoPro on his foot and set cameras up — dude really wants to make it.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• buddy
• chap
• fellow