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
Another franchisee, Newport Ventures, abruptly closed 17 of Colorado's 18 locations in March after issues with Del Taco and a bankruptcy filing, the Pensacola News Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
After responding, Ball abruptly got up and left while another reporter began asking a question.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Last Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration abruptly grounded all flights up to 18,000 feet around the Texas city for 10 days, effectively shutting down El Paso International Airport.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
In January, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said Jacobson abruptly filed his retirement paperwork after irregularities were discovered in the confidential informant program funds.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abruptly
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Saleen Martin, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
After responding, Ball abruptly got up and left while another reporter began asking a question.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Last Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration abruptly grounded all flights up to 18,000 feet around the Texas city for 10 days, effectively shutting down El Paso International Airport.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
In January, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said Jacobson abruptly filed his retirement paperwork after irregularities were discovered in the confidential informant program funds.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abruptly
Cite this Entry
“Abruptly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abruptly. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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