abruptly

adverb

abrupt·​ly ə-ˈbrəp(t)-lē How to pronounce abruptly (audio)
Synonyms of abruptlynext
: 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.
The Central, Southern United States A stretch of record-high temperatures across the Central and Southern United States will end abruptly as a wave of arctic chill rushes in Sunday afternoon and evening, creating a round of powerful thunderstorms. Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 28 Dec. 2025 In August 2021, Venezuelan financial authorities moved abruptly against the company. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Dec. 2025 Anora won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Madison, who utterly transforms as a young woman whose Cinderella dreams are abruptly shattered as she is forced to come back down to reality. Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Dec. 2025 Macy's abruptly closed its store inside the Wanamaker Building earlier this year, and the property was sold to a developer, putting the future of the show in jeopardy. Ross Dimattei, CBS News, 24 Dec. 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 29 Dec. 2025.

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