sudden

1 of 3

adjective

sud·​den ˈsə-dᵊn 

1

a

: 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

suddenly adverb

suddenness

ˈsə-dᵊn-(n)əs 

noun

sudden

2 of 3

noun (1)

obsolete

: an unexpected occurrence : emergency

see also:

all of a sudden

suddenness

3 of 3

noun (2)

sud·​den·​ness -dᵊn(n)ə̇s 

plural -es

: the quality or state of being sudden

Synonyms of sudden

Adjective

• unexpected
• abrupt

Choose the Right Synonym for sudden

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

His seemingly sudden ability to expand his and his wife Darla’s church didn’t help matters. — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

The sudden push toward scale marks a shift for a technology that spent years looking more like a Silicon Valley experiment than a serious alternative to putting a package in a car. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026

The morning after their fight, Russia invades Ukraine, and the two go on with their separation amid the backdrop of sudden social upheaval. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026

Pfaadt has done that, pitching like an ace for a team reeling from the sudden departure of Ketel Marte, the star second baseman who failed to report to Fenway Park for a series this week. — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English sodain, from Anglo-French sudain, from Latin subitaneus, from subitus sudden, from past participle of subire to come up, from sub- up + ire to go — more at sub-, issue entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (1)

1558, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sudden

• all of a sudden
• on a sudden
• sudden death
• sudden infant death syndrome
• sudden victory

Video

'All over sudden' vs. 'All of a sudden'

Figuring it out at once

Kids Definition

sudden

adjective

sud·​den

ˈsəd-ᵊn

1

a

: happening or coming unexpectedly

a sudden shower

b

: changing angle or character all at once

a sudden turn in the road

2

: marked by or showing haste

a sudden decision

3

: made or brought about in a short time

a sudden cure

suddenly adverb

suddenness

ˈsəd-ᵊn-(n)əs

noun