sudden

sud·den | \ ˈsə-dᵊn

How to pronounce sudden (audio)

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Definition of sudden

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : happening or coming unexpectedly a sudden shower

b : changing angle or character all at once a sudden drop in the ocean bottom

2 : marked by or manifesting abruptness or haste a sudden departure

3 : made or brought about in a short time : prompt

sudden

Definition of sudden (Entry 2 of 2)

obsolete

: an unexpected occurrence : emergency

all of a sudden or less commonly on a sudden

: sooner than was expected : at once

Other Words from sudden Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about sudden

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Choose the Right Synonym for sudden

Adjective

precipitate, headlong, abrupt, impetuous, sudden mean showing undue haste or unexpectedness. precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action. the army's precipitate withdrawal headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought. a headlong flight from arrest abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony. an abrupt refusal impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness. an impetuous lover proposing marriage sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action. flew into a sudden rage

Examples of sudden in a Sentence

Adjective a sudden change in temperature Sudden fame can be difficult to deal with. She had a sudden urge to be outside. His death was very sudden. a sudden turn in the road I was surprised by her sudden decision to quit. The director's sudden departure leaves the organization's future uncertain.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective All of a sudden the Wild led for the first time, and Stalock made sure that held up, coming up with a handful of clutch saves down the stretch, including an incredible denial of Rakell from point-blank range. — Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, "‘They got mad’: Wild kick off 10-day road trip with comeback win," 5 Nov. 2019 The most important thing to do is to remain calm and not make any sudden response. — Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, "Actively exploited bug in fully updated Firefox is sending users into a tizzy," 5 Nov. 2019 All of a sudden, Friday’s home against Washington is shaping up as the game of the year. — oregonlive, "Is Oregon State the frontrunner for Pac-12 offensive, defensive and coach of the year honors? Ten takeaways from the Beavers’ 56-38 win over Arizona," 3 Nov. 2019 All of a sudden, the Bears trailed only 19-7 with 6 minutes, 29 seconds remaining in the third quarter. — Brad Biggs, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Matt Nagy has lost his aggressiveness, adding another layer to the Bears’ mess," 3 Nov. 2019 To add to the sudden nerves, Silverthorne resident Canter competed as a late addition, not originally signed up to compete at the event. — Antonio Olivero, The Know, "Competitions continue to evolve skiing, riding with Winter X Games," 2 Nov. 2019 That explains why the sudden arrival in Kashmir on Oct. 29 of a group of MEPs from different European countries quickly became controversial in India. — Annabelle Timsit, Quartz India, "A French far-right politician explains why he accepted an invitation to locked-down Kashmir," 31 Oct. 2019 The Democrats sudden obsession over Ukraine’s well-being, like their newfound angst over the geopolitical challenge posed by Russia, is political posturing. 3. — Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, "The President’s Best Ukraine Defense: Not an Impeachable Offense," 27 Oct. 2019 Why, all of a sudden, will fans of opposing teams stay away? — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: L.A. is one tough climb, and Bolts just can’t ascend there," 19 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sudden.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for sudden

sudden

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of sudden

: happening, coming, or done very quickly in a way that is usually not expected

See the full definition for sudden in the English Language Learners Dictionary

sudden

sud·den | \ ˈsə-dᵊn

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Kids Definition of sudden

1 : happening or coming quickly and unexpectedly … she was startled by a sudden outburst of noise.— Robert C. O'Brien, Rats of NIMH

2 : met with unexpectedly We came to a sudden turn in the road.

3 : hasty sense 2 He made a sudden decision.

all of a sudden

: sooner than was expected : suddenly All of a sudden I saw him.

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