Meaning & use
abruptly
In a sudden and unexpected way, often without warning or a smooth transition.
See it in a sentence
The meeting ended abruptly when the fire alarm began blaring through the building.
She stopped speaking abruptly, as if she had suddenly remembered something urgent.
A note on using this word
Abruptly often carries a sense of rudeness or discomfort, unlike the more neutral suddenly.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “abruptly”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.