sudden
Americanadjective
adverb
noun
idioms
adjective
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occurring or performed quickly and without warning
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marked by haste; abrupt
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rare rash; precipitate
noun
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archaic an abrupt occurrence or the occasion of such an occurrence (in the phrase on a sudden )
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without warning; unexpectedly
adverb
Synonym Usage
Sudden, unexpected, abrupt describe acts, events, or conditions for which there has been no preparation or gradual approach. Sudden refers to the quickness of an occurrence, although the event may have been expected: a sudden change in the weather. Unexpected emphasizes the lack of preparedness for what occurs or appears: an unexpected crisis. Abrupt characterizes something involving a swift adjustment; the effect is often unpleasant, unfavorable, or the cause of dismay: He had an abrupt change in manner. The road came to an abrupt end.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sudden
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English adjective and adverb sodain, soden, sodan(e), from Middle French soudain, from Vulgar Latin subitānus, from Latin subitāneus “going or coming stealthily,” equivalent to subitus “sudden, arising without warning” + -āneus composite adjective suffix, equivalent to -ānus + -eus; see origin at subito, -an, -eous
Explanation
Anything sudden is abrupt, quick, or unexpected. A sudden rain shower during your picnic is disappointing, while a sudden drop-off in the road ahead can be dangerous if you're on your skateboard. The stock market might take a sudden dive, panicking investors, or your favorite TV show could make a sudden change in plot, confusing you for a couple of episodes. Sudden has been used as an adjective since the 15th century, and it was once a noun, too, meaning "that which is sudden." Today the noun form is obsolete, except in the phrase "all of a sudden."
Vocabulary lists containing sudden
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It will also test flagging information on its spending-limit tools to users who show a sudden spike in spending velocity, he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
"We have to be careful in both ways. We don't want to restrict them where all of a sudden we come in second to China," he told reporters in the Oval Office last week.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
Another factor could be the sudden spike in temperature in mid-July, leaving the animals insufficient time to acclimate to the heat, Karaki adds.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
His government has instead attributed the sudden arrival of migrants in Ceuta to human smugglers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
Propped up in a Cincinnati hotel bed, a hacking, feverish Calvin Brown made a sudden marriage proposal to his “dear sister” Leah.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
