dude

[ dood, dyood ]

noun

1. a man excessively concerned with his clothes, grooming, and manners.
2. Slang
   1. a fellow; chap.
   2. (a general term of address used to a man, woman, or group).
3. a person reared in a large city.
4. Western U.S. an urban Easterner who vacations on a ranch.

interjection

1. Slang (an expression of shock, approval, sympathy, or other strong feeling):

   Dude! That's one expensive sandwich!

verb phrase

1. Slang. to dress in one's fanciest, best, or most stylish clothes; dress up:

   He got all duded up to go to the dance.

dude

/ duːd; djuːd /

noun

1. a city dweller, esp one holidaying on a ranch
2. a dandy
3. a person: often used to any male in direct address

Derived Forms

• ˈdudishly, adverb
• ˈdudish, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dude¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of dude¹

C19: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Actually, indulge me one last time as I note Scott’s response to that question in a recent interview: “Dude, if you can build a Colosseum, you can flood it with f— water. Are you joking? And to get a couple of sharks in a net from the sea, are you kidding? Of course they can.”

From Los Angeles Times

Credited by Trump supporters on social media as "uncovering the Russian collusion hoax" and tracing it back to Hillary Clinton, in addition to being the "only intelligence dude to say Hunter's laptop was real," others outside of the MAGA-sphere are reminding of his prior statements on UFOs.

From Salon

“Dude, that’s what made everything for me,” said the 44-year-old.

From Los Angeles Times

“There was a video of a meteorologist in south Florida who ended up crying on air. A number of my friends, who are not political, sent me that video saying, like, ‘Hey, pretty insane, dude.

From Slate

He had further success under his own name with his albums The Dude and Back on the Block.

From BBC

Related Words

• buddy
• chap
• fellow