Meaning & use

suddenly

adverb·Everyday

Happening quickly and unexpectedly, without any warning or advance notice.

See it in a sentence

The sky suddenly darkened just minutes before the storm hit.

He suddenly remembered he had left the stove on at home.

A note on using this word

Often placed before the verb or at the start of a sentence for emphasis, as in 'Suddenly, the lights went out.'

Words with a similar meaning

abruptlyunexpectedlyinstantly

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

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