abrupt
[ uh-bruhpt ]
/ əˈbrʌpt /
adjective
sudden or unexpected: an abrupt departure.
curt or brusque in speech, manner, etc.: an abrupt reply.
terminating or changing suddenly: an abrupt turn in a road.
having many sudden changes from one subject to another; lacking in continuity or smoothness: an abrupt writing style.
steep; precipitous: an abrupt descent.
Botany. truncate(def 4).
RELATED CONTENT
RELATED WORDS
unexpected, surprising, hasty, precipitous, unforeseen, sudden, hurried, quick, unanticipated, jerky, precipitate, rushing, unceremonious, blunt, brusque, crude, crusty, curt, direct, discourteous
Nearby words
- abroach,
- abroad,
- abrogable,
- abrogate,
- abrogation,
- abruptio placentae,
- abruption,
- abruptly,
- abruptly pinnate,
- abruzzi
Origin of abrupt
1575–85; < Latin abruptus broken off (past participle of abrumpere), equivalent to ab- ab- + -rup- break + -tus past participle suffix
SYNONYMS FOR abrupt
ANTONYMS FOR abrupt
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for abrupt
abrupt
/ (əˈbrʌpt) /
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
Word Origin for abrupt
C16: from Latin abruptus broken off, from ab- 1 + rumpere to break
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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abrupt
1580s, from Latin abruptus "broken off, precipitous, disconnected," past participle of abrumpere "break off," from ab- "off" (see ab-) + rumpere "break" (see rupture (n.)). Related: Abruptly; abruptness.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper