sudden

[ suhd-n ]

adjective

1. happening, coming, made, or done quickly, without warning, or unexpectedly:

   a sudden attack.

   Antonyms: gradual

2. occurring without transition from the previous form, state, etc.; abrupt:

   a sudden turn.

   Antonyms: gradual

3. impetuous; rash.
4. Archaic. quickly made or provided.
5. Obsolete. unpremeditated.

adverb

1. Literary. without warning; suddenly.

noun

1. Obsolete. an unexpected occasion or occurrence.

sudden

/ ˈsʌdən /

adjective

1. occurring or performed quickly and without warning
2. marked by haste; abrupt
3. rare.
   rash; precipitate

noun

1. archaic.
   an abrupt occurrence or the occasion of such an occurrence (in the phrase on a sudden )
2. all of a sudden
   without warning; unexpectedly

adverb

1. poetic.
   without warning; suddenly

Derived Forms

• ˈsuddenness, noun

Other Words From

• sudden·ly adverb
• sudden·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sudden¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English adjective and adverb sodain, soden, sodan(e), from Middle French soudain, from Vulgar Latin subitānus, from Latin subitāneus “going or coming stealthily,” equivalent to subitus “sudden, arising without warning” + -āneus composite adjective suffix, equivalent to -ānus + -eus; subito, -an, -eous

Word History and Origins

Origin of sudden¹

C13: via French from Late Latin subitāneus, from Latin subitus unexpected, from subīre to happen unexpectedly, from sub- secretly + īre to go

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. all of a sudden, without warning; unexpectedly; suddenly. Also on a sudden.

More idioms and phrases containing sudden

see all of a sudden .

Synonym Study

Sudden, unexpected, abrupt describe acts, events, or conditions for which there has been no preparation or gradual approach. Sudden refers to the quickness of an occurrence, although the event may have been expected: a sudden change in the weather. Unexpected emphasizes the lack of preparedness for what occurs or appears: an unexpected crisis. Abrupt characterizes something involving a swift adjustment; the effect is often unpleasant, unfavorable, or the cause of dismay: He had an abrupt change in manner. The road came to an abrupt end.

Example Sentences

With the co-production between Latvia, France and Belgium, Zilbalodis went from being a jack-of-all-trades to forming his own production company — thereby mirroring the loner cat’s sudden need to work in a team environment.

From Los Angeles Times

A subsequent post-mortem examination on Mr Rollinson revealed he had significant heart disease and would have most likely been "at risk of a sudden cardiac arrest at any time".

From BBC

Laughter is a sudden, spasmodic expulsion air, but, at the same time, it is adjacent to other, more concerning practices of expulsion and denigration.

From Salon

“The loss was very sudden, it happened really fast, especially because we’re really close to where the fire started,” Flores said.

From Los Angeles Times

These early Aboriginal communities used fire to penetrate and modify dense, wet forest for their own use -- as indicated by a sudden increase in charcoal accumulated in ancient mud 41,600 years ago.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• abrupt
• hasty
• immediate
• precipitous
• quick
• rapid
• swift
• unforeseen
• unusual