Suddenly: meaning, definitions and examples

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suddenly

 

[ ˈsʌdənli ]

Adverb / Adjective
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adverb

out of the blue

Happening or done without warning or in a very short time; unexpectedly.

Synonyms

abruptly, all of a sudden, unexpectedly

Examples of usage

  • She suddenly felt a sharp pain in her back.
  • Suddenly, the phone rang, breaking the silence in the room.
Context #2 | Adjective

surprising

Used to emphasize the unexpectedness of an event.

Synonyms

abrupt, surprising, unexpected

Examples of usage

  • The sudden change in weather caught us off guard.
  • He made a sudden decision to quit his job and travel the world.

Translations

Translations of the word "suddenly" in other languages:

🇵🇹 de repente

🇮🇳 अचानक

🇩🇪 plötzlich

🇮🇩 tiba-tiba

🇺🇦 раптово

🇵🇱 nagle

🇯🇵 突然 (とつぜん)

🇫🇷 soudain

🇪🇸 de repente

🇹🇷 aniden

🇰🇷 갑자기

🇸🇦 فجأة

🇨🇿 náhle

🇸🇰 náhle

🇨🇳 突然 (tūrán)

🇸🇮 nenadoma

🇮🇸 skyndilega

🇰🇿 күтпеген жерден

🇬🇪 უეცრად

🇦🇿 birdən

🇲🇽 de repente

Word origin

The word 'suddenly' comes from the Middle English word 'sodeinli', which is derived from the Old French word 'sodain'. Its usage can be traced back to the 14th century. Over time, 'suddenly' has become a common adverb used to describe actions or events that occur quickly and unexpectedly.

See also: suddenness.

Word Frequency Rank

This word ranks #1,814, placing it within important intermediate vocabulary. Learning it will significantly improve your ability to express yourself in English.