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

Doku had seen his run down the left flank abruptly ended by Keane.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

If the object has no atmosphere, the star's light should disappear abruptly as it is blocked.

From Science Daily • May 5, 2026

But his big-league dream abruptly became a wake-up call last August when the Cubs released him a week before his wife gave birth to their first child.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

On Saturday, the ultra-low-cost carrier abruptly shut down operations, leaving customers and crew members stranded across the U.S.

From Slate • May 5, 2026

His squirming stopped abruptly, frozen by her stare.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

Related Words

• all of a sudden
• precipitously
• suddenly
• unexpectedly