sudden

American  

[suhd-n] / ˈsʌd n /

adjective

1. happening, coming, made, or done quickly, without warning, or unexpectedly.

   a sudden attack.

   Antonyms:

   gradual

2. occurring without transition from the previous form, state, etc.; abrupt.

   a sudden turn.

   Antonyms:

   gradual

3. impetuous; rash.

4. Archaic.  quickly made or provided.

5. Obsolete.  unpremeditated.

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adverb

1. Literary.  without warning; suddenly.

noun

1. Obsolete.  an unexpected occasion or occurrence.

idioms

1. all of a sudden,  without warning; unexpectedly; suddenly. Also on a sudden

sudden British  

/ ˈsʌdən /

adjective

1. occurring or performed quickly and without warning

2. marked by haste; abrupt

3. rare  rash; precipitate

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noun

1. archaic  an abrupt occurrence or the occasion of such an occurrence (in the phrase on a sudden )

2. without warning; unexpectedly

adverb

1. poetic  without warning; suddenly

sudden More Idioms  

1. see all of a sudden.

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Related Words

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

• suddenly adverb
• suddenness noun

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; subito, -an, -eous

Example Sentences

“All of the sudden, it burst open and ten, maybe 15 cats jumped out, running all over the place, under the tables, under the sisters’ skirts.

From Salon

Strategy stock was down 11% to $157.77 on Monday following a sudden reversal in the price of Bitcoin that erased all of last week’s gains.

From Barron's

For example, a steel manufacturer faced with a sudden shortage of tungsten could apply Pathway’s framework that can learn from limited amounts of private data, without exposing that data to the world.

From The Wall Street Journal

They include “unexplained withdrawals or transfers from bank accounts; sudden changes to wills, trusts or beneficiary designations; bills going unpaid; confusion about financial transactions; isolation from family members or reluctance to discuss money.”

From MarketWatch

Powered by the sudden return of his three-pointer, Reaves scored 31 points against the Clippers last Tuesday and 38 against the Mavericks on Friday.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abrupt
• hasty
• immediate
• precipitous
• quick
• rapid
• swift
• unforeseen
• unusual