Definition

Adverb 1. Quickly and without warning; unexpectedly: Refers to something happening in an instant, with no prior indication or preparation. 2. On impulse; without premeditation: Describes an action taken immediately, without prior thought or planning.

Usage Examples

• Quickly and without warning:
  • The car in front of us stopped suddenly.
  • The lights went out suddenly, plunging the room into darkness.
• On impulse; without premeditation:
  • He suddenly decided to quit his job and travel the world.
  • I didn't plan to buy it; the idea came to me suddenly.

Advanced Usage

• "All of a sudden": This is a common idiomatic phrase synonymous with "suddenly," used to introduce a surprising or abrupt event.
  • All of a sudden, the sky turned dark and it began to hail.
• Used to emphasize a sharp contrast or an immediate change in state or feeling.
  • She was laughing, but suddenly she burst into tears.

Variants and Related Words

• Sudden (adjective): Happening or done quickly and unexpectedly.
  • a sudden change in the weather
• Suddenness (noun): The quality of being sudden.
  • The suddenness of the announcement shocked everyone.

Synonyms

• Abruptly: In a sudden and unexpected way.
• Unexpectedly: In a way that was not anticipated.
• Instantly: Immediately; at once.

Related Idioms

• Out of the blue: Happening completely unexpectedly. (Similar in meaning to "suddenly").
  • The job offer came out of the blue.

Adverb

1. on impulse; without premeditation
   • he decided to go to Chicago on the spur of the moment
   • he made up his mind suddenly
2. quickly and without warning
   • he stopped suddenly
3. happening unexpectedly
   • suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her side