Abrupt
adjective
Sudden and unexpected.
He made an abrupt turn to avoid the dog on the road.
Often appears as...
- abrupt stop
- abrupt change
adjective
Speaking or behaving in a very direct and rude way.
He had an abrupt manner that could sometimes offend people.
Often appears as...
- abrupt manner
- abrupt response
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Steep or quick to change, like a cliff.
The abrupt hills made the journey difficult.
Often appears as...
- abrupt increase
- abrupt drop
adjective
Sudden and unexpected.
He made an abrupt turn to avoid the dog on the road.
Often appears as...
- abrupt stop
- abrupt change
adjective
Speaking or behaving in a very direct and rude way.
He had an abrupt manner that could sometimes offend people.
Often appears as...
- abrupt manner
- abrupt response
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Steep or quick to change, like a cliff.
The abrupt hills made the journey difficult.
Often appears as...
- abrupt increase
- abrupt drop
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Unexpected Events
Use 'abrupt' when an action or event happens so unexpectedly it may cause surprise or shock.
The show's abrupt ending left the audience in disbelief.
Pro Tip 2/3Strong Reactions
Describe a physical reaction, like a stop or movement, that's so sudden it jolts or startles you.
The car came to an abrupt halt when a cat dashed across the street.
Pro Tip 3/3Story Twists
Use 'abrupt' for a rapid change in a narrative or subject that might confuse or intrigue.
Her story took an abrupt twist that none of us saw coming.
Pro Tip 1/3Unexpected Events
Use 'abrupt' when an action or event happens so unexpectedly it may cause surprise or shock.
The show's abrupt ending left the audience in disbelief.
Pro Tip 2/3Strong Reactions
Describe a physical reaction, like a stop or movement, that's so sudden it jolts or startles you.
The car came to an abrupt halt when a cat dashed across the street.
Pro Tip 3/3Story Twists
Use 'abrupt' for a rapid change in a narrative or subject that might confuse or intrigue.
Her story took an abrupt twist that none of us saw coming.
Pro Tip 1/3Unexpected Events
Use 'abrupt' when an action or event happens so unexpectedly it may cause surprise or shock.
The show's abrupt ending left the audience in disbelief.
Pro Tip 2/3Strong Reactions
Describe a physical reaction, like a stop or movement, that's so sudden it jolts or startles you.
The car came to an abrupt halt when a cat dashed across the street.
Pro Tip 3/3Story Twists
Use 'abrupt' for a rapid change in a narrative or subject that might confuse or intrigue.
Her story took an abrupt twist that none of us saw coming.
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Video examples
Ken Jennings: Watson,...
he told us that when the tide goes out abruptly out to sea and you see the waves churning way out there, that's the sign of a tsunami, and you need to clear the beach." What would you do if your 10-year-old daughter came up to you with this? Her parents thought about it, and they finally, to their credit, decided to believe her. They told the lifeguard, they went back to the hotel,
Video examples
Success, failure and the...
in our lives between the way we experience great failure and the way we experience great success. So think of it like For most of your life, you live out your existence here in the middle of the chain of human experience where everything is normal and reassuring and regular, but failure catapults you abruptly way out over here
Video examples
Climate Change 101 with...
what exactly is climate change why should we care well the Earth's climate has changed throughout history most of these slight changes are caused by small variations in the Earth's orbit but climate change as we know it today is characterized by an abrupt increase in the earth's temperature it is estimated to have
Video examples
Let the environment...
controllably in our -- so to say -- linear systems, and that in fact, surprise is universal, as systems tip over very rapidly, abruptly and often irreversibly. This, dear friends, poses a human pressure on the planet of momentous scale.
Video examples
Why should you read...
and he begins to plots his revenge on the new king and his court of conspirators. The play is an odd sort of tragedy, lacking either the abrupt brutality or all-consuming romance that characterize Shakespeare’s other work in the genre.
Video examples
My Daughter, Malala PIPE...
And she abruptly told me, "Please don't blame yourself. You stood for the right cause. You put your life at stake for the cause of truth, for the cause of peace, and for the cause of education, and your daughter in inspired from you
Video examples
Resilient people,...
ministers concern of keeping biomes in a stable state in a globalized world this is a new situation we need to consider global tipping points that we are pushing ourselves to a point where things can abruptly change and push
Video examples
For the Love of Jaguars...
you go and take tears from an animal, rub your finger in an animal's eyes and then rub it on your eyes, it's one of the most unhealthy practices in the world and you can see, see ghosts. Now all of this came to an abrupt end
Video examples
Are ghost ships real? -...
water in its hold, and lifeboats missing. The discovery of its intact cargo and a captain's log that ended abruptly led to wild rumors and speculation. But the real culprits were two scientific buoyancy and fluid dynamics.
Video examples
Sir Martin Rees: Earth...
What would they have seen? Over nearly all that immense time, Earth's appearance would have changed very gradually. The only abrupt worldwide change would have been major asteroid impacts or volcanic super-eruptions.
Video examples
Ken Jennings: Watson,...
he told us that when the tide goes out abruptly out to sea and you see the waves churning way out there, that's the sign of a tsunami, and you need to clear the beach." What would you do if your 10-year-old daughter came up to you with this? Her parents thought about it, and they finally, to their credit, decided to believe her. They told the lifeguard, they went back to the hotel,
Video examples
Success, failure and the...
in our lives between the way we experience great failure and the way we experience great success. So think of it like For most of your life, you live out your existence here in the middle of the chain of human experience where everything is normal and reassuring and regular, but failure catapults you abruptly way out over here
Video examples
Climate Change 101 with...
what exactly is climate change why should we care well the Earth's climate has changed throughout history most of these slight changes are caused by small variations in the Earth's orbit but climate change as we know it today is characterized by an abrupt increase in the earth's temperature it is estimated to have
Video examples
Let the environment...
controllably in our -- so to say -- linear systems, and that in fact, surprise is universal, as systems tip over very rapidly, abruptly and often irreversibly. This, dear friends, poses a human pressure on the planet of momentous scale.
Video examples
Why should you read...
and he begins to plots his revenge on the new king and his court of conspirators. The play is an odd sort of tragedy, lacking either the abrupt brutality or all-consuming romance that characterize Shakespeare’s other work in the genre.
Video examples
My Daughter, Malala PIPE...
And she abruptly told me, "Please don't blame yourself. You stood for the right cause. You put your life at stake for the cause of truth, for the cause of peace, and for the cause of education, and your daughter in inspired from you
Video examples
Resilient people,...
ministers concern of keeping biomes in a stable state in a globalized world this is a new situation we need to consider global tipping points that we are pushing ourselves to a point where things can abruptly change and push
Video examples
For the Love of Jaguars...
you go and take tears from an animal, rub your finger in an animal's eyes and then rub it on your eyes, it's one of the most unhealthy practices in the world and you can see, see ghosts. Now all of this came to an abrupt end
Video examples
Are ghost ships real? -...
water in its hold, and lifeboats missing. The discovery of its intact cargo and a captain's log that ended abruptly led to wild rumors and speculation. But the real culprits were two scientific buoyancy and fluid dynamics.
Video examples
Sir Martin Rees: Earth...
What would they have seen? Over nearly all that immense time, Earth's appearance would have changed very gradually. The only abrupt worldwide change would have been major asteroid impacts or volcanic super-eruptions.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Victoria Moran
American Writer
I don't eat animals. I rescue strays and take injured pigeons to the wildlife rehab. I carry spiders and wasps outside in a cup covered with a 3x5 card. It would only follow that I'd take pause when contemplating the abrupt and apparently brutal ending of a tiny human being's life, or even a potential human being's life.
Quote examples
Pierce Brosnan
Irish Actor
When you go through a long illness, certainly one of cancer, there's a certain release from it and relief that it has come to an end, because the suffering can be unbearable, as opposed to an abrupt stop to life when they go out the door and there's a loved one who never comes home because of some accident.
Quote examples
Haruki Murakami
Japanese Writer
I try not to think about anything special while running. As a matter of fact, I usually run with my mind empty. However, when I run empty-minded, something naturally and abruptly crawls in sometime. That might become an idea that can help me with my writing.
Quote examples
Vladimir Nabokov
American Novelist
I have often noticed that after I had bestowed on the characters of my novels some treasured item of my past, it would pine away in the artificial world where I had so abruptly placed it.
Quote examples
Craig Mundie
American Businessman
I am not that concerned that innovation in some large scale sense will suddenly and abruptly shift from one part of the world to another.
Quote examples
Gilbert White
English Scientist
The parish I live in is a very abrupt, uneven country, full of hills and woods, and therefore full of birds.
Quote examples
Bret Stephens
American Journalist
Demanding abrupt and expensive changes in public policy raises fair questions about ideological intentions.
Quote examples
Mardy Fish
American Tennis Player
The sport, my job, was taken from me so abruptly that it took me a long time to get my life back.
Quote examples
Ernest Bramah
English Writer
Where the road bends abruptly, take short steps.
Quote examples
Joe Maddon
American Businessman
I did not like leaving the Rays so abruptly.
Quote examples
Victoria Moran
American Writer
I don't eat animals. I rescue strays and take injured pigeons to the wildlife rehab. I carry spiders and wasps outside in a cup covered with a 3x5 card. It would only follow that I'd take pause when contemplating the abrupt and apparently brutal ending of a tiny human being's life, or even a potential human being's life.
Quote examples
Pierce Brosnan
Irish Actor
When you go through a long illness, certainly one of cancer, there's a certain release from it and relief that it has come to an end, because the suffering can be unbearable, as opposed to an abrupt stop to life when they go out the door and there's a loved one who never comes home because of some accident.
Quote examples
Haruki Murakami
Japanese Writer
I try not to think about anything special while running. As a matter of fact, I usually run with my mind empty. However, when I run empty-minded, something naturally and abruptly crawls in sometime. That might become an idea that can help me with my writing.
Quote examples
Vladimir Nabokov
American Novelist
I have often noticed that after I had bestowed on the characters of my novels some treasured item of my past, it would pine away in the artificial world where I had so abruptly placed it.
Quote examples
Craig Mundie
American Businessman
I am not that concerned that innovation in some large scale sense will suddenly and abruptly shift from one part of the world to another.
Quote examples
Gilbert White
English Scientist
The parish I live in is a very abrupt, uneven country, full of hills and woods, and therefore full of birds.
Quote examples
Bret Stephens
American Journalist
Demanding abrupt and expensive changes in public policy raises fair questions about ideological intentions.
Quote examples
Mardy Fish
American Tennis Player
The sport, my job, was taken from me so abruptly that it took me a long time to get my life back.
Quote examples
Ernest Bramah
English Writer
Where the road bends abruptly, take short steps.
Quote examples
Joe Maddon
American Businessman
I did not like leaving the Rays so abruptly.
Example 1 of 10
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