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

When I look in the mirror, I don’t see myself as a 64-year-old dude.

From Los Angeles Times

“I don’t think that us having dudes sit down lessens any chances that we have — any motivation or confidence — to win the game,” Gadsden said.

From Los Angeles Times

“You can just see: I’m scrambling on third down and those dudes are converging on me so fast. Those linebackers are massive, running sideline to sideline. They’re probably the most talented defense I’ve ever faced.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Walking down Sixth Avenue in New York recently, I was mesmerized by a Salvation Army dude with his red donation bucket dancing to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“What does surprise me a little bit is that the dude knew leverage,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• buddy
• chap
• fellow