abruptly
adverb
abrupt·ly
ə-ˈbrəp(t)-lē 
: 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
Michael LoganThe small, rocky Anacapa Island [California] has steep cliffs which rise abruptly from the ocean on almost every side …—David J. Rutherford
David J. RutherfordExamples of abruptly in a Sentence
the car in front stopped abruptly, and we almost hit it
Recent Examples on the Web
Former Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Kugler abruptly resigned after Chair Jerome Powell refused to grant her a waiver to address financial holdings that ran afoul of the central bank’s ethics rules, according to a Fed official.
—Amara Omeokwe, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2025
The report - which details hiring, layoffs and the unemployment rate for September - was almost complete when the government economists who tally jobs were abruptly furloughed by the shutdown.
—NPR, 14 Nov. 2025
The singer appeared startled as she was abruptly pulled aside by castmate Cynthia Erivo, who reacted instantly—grabbing her arm and guiding her out of the intruder’s path.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
The relationship ended abruptly with Common initiating the breakup over the phone, according to the comedian.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abruptly
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Amara Omeokwe, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2025
The report - which details hiring, layoffs and the unemployment rate for September - was almost complete when the government economists who tally jobs were abruptly furloughed by the shutdown.
—NPR, 14 Nov. 2025
The singer appeared startled as she was abruptly pulled aside by castmate Cynthia Erivo, who reacted instantly—grabbing her arm and guiding her out of the intruder’s path.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
The relationship ended abruptly with Common initiating the breakup over the phone, according to the comedian.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abruptly
Cite this Entry
“Abruptly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abruptly. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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