abrupt

[ uh-bruhpt ]
See synonyms for: abruptabruptlyabruptness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. sudden or unexpected: an abrupt departure.

  2. curt or brusque in speech, manner, etc.: an abrupt reply.

  1. terminating or changing suddenly: an abrupt turn in a road.

  2. having many sudden changes from one subject to another; lacking in continuity or smoothness: an abrupt writing style.

  3. steep; precipitous: an abrupt descent.

Origin of abrupt

1
First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin abruptus “broken off”(past participle of abrumpere), equivalent to ab-ab- + -rup- “break” + -tus past participle suffix

synonym study For abrupt

1, 3. See sudden.

Other words for abrupt

Opposites for abrupt

Other words from abrupt

  • ab·rupt·ly, adverb
  • ab·rupt·ness, noun

Words Nearby abrupt

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use abrupt in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for abrupt

abrupt

/ (əˈbrʌpt) /


adjective
  1. sudden; unexpected

  2. brusque or brief in speech, manner, etc; curt

  1. (of a style of writing or speaking) making sharp transitions from one subject to another; disconnected

  2. precipitous; steep

  3. botany shaped as though a part has been cut off; truncate

  4. geology (of strata) cropping out suddenly

Origin of abrupt

1
C16: from Latin abruptus broken off, from ab- 1 + rumpere to break

Derived forms of abrupt

  • abruptly, adverb
  • abruptness, noun

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