abruptly

adverb

abrupt·​ly ə-ˈbrəp(t)-lē How to pronounce abruptly (audio)
: in an abrupt manner : in a sudden and unexpected way
He left abruptly.
The car swerved abruptly onto the exit ramp.
Her career as a psychologist ended abruptly several years ago when a hacker broke into some of her private client files and made them public …Michael Logan
The small, rocky Anacapa Island [California] has steep cliffs which rise abruptly from the ocean on almost every side …David J. Rutherford

Examples of abruptly in a Sentence

the car in front stopped abruptly, and we almost hit it
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After abruptly leaving the Chicago stop of her and Monica‘s The Boy Is Mine Tour, Brandy Norwood is explaining her exit and apologizing to fans. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2025 However, Brogdon abruptly retired toward the end of the preseason, making the decision easier for the Knicks’ brass. James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025 The Philadelphia Eagles’ defense took a hit over the last week as Za’Darius Smith abruptly decided to retire from the NFL following the team’s loss to the New York Giants. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025 Amid speculation about why Brandy abruptly left the concert — Monica immediately dismissed any possible bad blood by shouting out Brandy when the show continued — the singer explained in a statement Sunday morning that she was forced to exit due to health issues. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for abruptly

Word History

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of abruptly was in 1565

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Abruptly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abruptly. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on abruptly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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