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

Why did anybody pretend to be surprised that this dude was a massive slimeball who cultivated other slimeballs?

From Salon • Feb. 15, 2026

This is just one thing that happened to this one dude.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

The company gets good mileage out of Boone’s trademark backflip here, but yeah—goodbye forever, dude!

From Slate • Feb. 8, 2026

He’s the dude giving Matthew Stafford a race for league MVP.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

Leo wanted to shout: And I’m the dude that’s all out of here!

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• buddy
• chap
• fellow