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

“This dude sees the world a little differently than us,” Alfredo worried.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

He won some fame as a surfer dude in Amy Heckerling's 1982 hit teen flick "Fast Times at Ridgemont High."

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

But to snap a portrait of one delicious little donut dude with a backdrop of the city that embraces him.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2026

"He look like the type of dude who would own a store that just sells...snacks. Like, you know what kind of guy you gotta be to just sell snacks? Snacks?"

From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds

Related Words

• buddy
• chap
• fellow