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

“I’m like, come on dude, don’t go falling on me or everybody’s going to be looking at us!”

From Los Angeles Times

"I wish more power to the players to make as much $$$$ as they can, whilst they can. Keep hitting sixes and switch-hits and growing your bank accounts, dudes!"

From BBC

“Have you ever had f— people stand up at your parents’ house because you’re over here in Los Angeles doing everything, dude, that’s the f— guy I am.”

From Los Angeles Times

I’m like, “dude, I don’t have any idea. Just make sure you get on stage a lot.”

From Los Angeles Times

“You don’t think that it’s his 23rd year. The dude’s a machine.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• buddy
• chap
• fellow